Veterinary Vertex
Veterinary Vertex
AVMA Journals
Rapid Cooling in Dogs: The Science Behind Post-Exercise Head Dunking
15 minutes Posted Jan 10, 2026 at 6:00 am.
Meet The Guest And Study Focus
Motivation For Cool First, Transport Second
Designing Real-World Cooling Methods
Why Rapid Cooling Changes Outcomes
Head Dunk Results And Practical Tips
Recognizing Signs Of Heat Stress
Open Questions And Next Studies
Prevention For High-Risk Dogs
Awards, Career Advice, And Lighthearted Moments
Closing And Where To Read The Study
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Send us Fan Mail A working dog powers through a hot training session, then stops. The clock is ticking, because core temperature can keep climbing even after the effort ends. We sit down with JAVMA student award winner Sarah Parnes to unpack a simple, field-ready strategy that changes outcomes: cool first, transport second. Using the gear most of us carry—a water bottle, a towel, a small cooler—Sara's team tested multiple methods outdoors to mirror real-world conditions. One approach stood ou...