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Detection Dogs Working in Hot Climates: The Influence on Thermoregulation and Fecal Consistency
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Department Environment & Biodiversity, Salzburg University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
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Action for Cheetahs in Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 1611-00606, Kenya
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School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2024, 14(17), 2456; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172456
Submission received: 6 July 2024
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Revised: 20 August 2024
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Accepted: 21 August 2024
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Published: 23 August 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Welfare)
Simple Summary
The performance of search dogs is limited by their ability to cool down their body because the main cooling ability—panting—contradicts sniffing. We investigated the effect of hot environments on the general body condition of detection dogs working in Kenya. These dogs search for cheetah scats in their arid and hot habitat, where it is especially challenging for them to work. After a working day in the fields, these dogs showed a softer stool, which means a higher stress level, and elevated body temperature during the routine check-in the next morning. Our results showed that the use of search dogs in hot conditions is possible and useful but requires increased attention to prevent heat-related illness.
Abstract
Body temperature is an important physiological parameter that influences the performance of working dogs. The main cooling mechanism in dogs is panting to support evaporative cooling, which reduces the dog’s ability to detect scents. In this study, we investigated the general body condition of four detection dogs searching for cheetah scats in a hot environment in northern Kenya. We evaluated the effect on the dog’s body temperature post-work in the short term (within hours) and long term (12–24 h). The fecal consistency and mean body temperature of the investigated dogs differed significantly between individuals but not between locations (moderate Nairobi and hot Samburu). On the morning after fieldwork, the dogs showed a significantly increased body temperature (37.9 ± 0.8 °C) compared to resting days (37.5 ± 2.2 °C). In the short term, on the first day of fieldwork, the dog’s body temperature (n = 2) decreased after 10 min of rest. On the second consecutive day of fieldwork, the 10-min recovery period was too short, and the body temperature did not decrease significantly. Our data showed that the use of detection dogs in hot conditions is possible and useful but requires increased attention to prevent heat-related illness.
