COPIED FROM THE AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION, see weblink below the article.

"Cool-Down Science: How a Simple Head Dunk Could Save Your Dog from Heat Stroke"

July 8, 2025

Summer brings long days of sunshine and outdoor adventure and for many dogs, that means backyard play, long hikes, training sessions, or athletic competitions. But with rising temperatures comes a real danger: heat injury.

Just as you might crave air conditioning and ice water after time outside, your dog can  feel similarly. Even with shaded rest areas, cooling towels, and constant hydration, it can be difficult to keep active dogs cool—especially those involved in working or sporting events. Dogs primarily cool themselves through panting and some sweating through their paw pads, which makes them more vulnerable to overheating. 

“High-energy dogs often don’t know when to stop, and it’s devastating,” said Dr. Cynthia Otto, Executive Director of the PennVet Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania. “They seem fine, then suddenly collapse with heat stroke. And there’s a 50 percent chance they won’t survive.”

For years, dog owners have turned to traditional cooling methods like alcohol on paw pads or dunking in water. But what actually works best? Until recently, no one knew for sure.

Putting Cooling Methods to the Test

In 2022, Dr. Otto launched a study to compare the effects of partial water immersion versus applying isopropyl alcohol to paw pads. Dogs stood in shallow water or on alcohol-treated pads. The result: water immersion proved more effective and did not raise heart rate like alcohol did, likely due to the alcohol’s intense smell.

Next, with funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation, Dr. Otto’s team tested four additional cooling techniques:

1. Ice pack on the neck

2. Wet towel on the neck

3. Wet towels in the axillae (armpits)

4. Voluntary head dunk in 70°F water

Dogs exercised for 10 minutes until reaching 105°F core body temperature or showed signs of heat stress, like heavy panting or a change in the color of their gums. Then each cooling method was applied, and dogs were monitored for 40 minutes.

The head dunk came out on top. It delivered the fastest and most sustained reduction in body temperature.

“This result blew our minds,” said Dr. Otto. “But it also made perfect sense. Dogs pant to regulate heat, which increases blood flow to the head. Cool the head, and you cool the dog faster.”

From Research to Real Life: What the Data Means for You and Your Dog

Dr. Otto is now building on her research with a follow-up study to explore whether factors like water temperature or substitute methods, like applying cool towels to the head, can offer similar results—especially for dogs who are panting excessively or who are unwilling to dunk their heads.

Even for pet owners without sporting or working dogs, this research offers practical, life-saving insight. A soaked towel over the head, a shallow basin of cool water, or a quick head dip could be enough to prevent tragedy on a hot day.

Real-world applications are already underway. During a medical visit in Zambia with Working Dogs for Conservation, Dr. Otto had the opportunity to introduce the head dunk technique.

“We didn’t know how effective it would be at the time,” she recalled. “But we could tell this had the potential to change outcomes for active dogs.”

Thanks to funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation and Dr. Otto’s continued commitment to canine wellness, dog owners everywhere now have access to simple, science-backed tools to help prevent the deadly consequences of heat injury.

/https://www.akcchf.org/educational-resources/library/articles/cool-down-science-how-a-simple-head-dunk-could-save-your-dog-from-heat-stroke/