Predicting Recovery from Exertional Heat Strain in Military Working Dogs

Publication date: Available online 5 July 2018Source: Journal of Thermal BiologyAuthor(s): Catherine O’Brien, Larry G. BerglundAbstractA two-compartment (core, skin) rational Canine Thermal Model (CTM) of thermal-physiological responses was developed to predict the core temperature (Tc) of a military working dog (MWD) during recovery from exertional heat stress. Heat storage is represented as the balance among heat loss mechanisms, heat gain from the environment, and heat production from metabolism. Inputs to the CTM include environmental conditions (ambient temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and wind speed), physical characteristics of the dog (weight, length), and metabolic rate. The CTM was validated against Tc of 16 MWDs measured in a previous study, where training was conducted in October (24 °C, 52% RH), March (14 °C, 74% RH), and August (28 °C, 64% RH). Measured and CTM-simulated Tc were compared at 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 min post-exercise. The CTM was considered acceptable if it was within 0.5 °C of measured Tc for 80% of cases. This occurred in 92% of 37 cases after 30 min recovery, and 86% of 29 cases after 60 min. The mean difference between CTM-simulated and measured Tc was −0.01 °C at 30 min recovery, with 2 of 37 cases falling outside the range of two standard deviations (Bland Altman comparison). After 60 min recovery the difference was 0.05 °C, with 4 of 29 cases outside the range of a...
Source: Journal of Thermal Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: research