A Simple Solution to a Dangerous Problem

November 11, 2025 • Dr. Cynthia Otto

Dr. Cynthia M. Otto, Executive Director of the PennVet Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and a board-certified specialist in both Emergency and Critical Care as well as Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, has been a leader in working-dog health research for decades. 

One of the most pressing issues in caring for active dogs, especially working dogs with heavy physical demands, is treating overheating, which can quickly turn into heat stroke. When a dog’s body temperature surges to 105°F (≈40.6°C) or higher, the risk of serious complications, including organ damage and death, becomes very real.

“Dr. Otto and her team asked two fundamental questions:

What is the best method to cool an overheated dog?

Could a simple behavior be leveraged for cooling an

overheated dog?”

The results of her award winning research on heat stress can be found on https://www.akcchf.org/educational- resources/library/articles/a-simple-solution-for-a- dangerous-problem/