Ozempic in a pill? The next generation of weight-loss drugs emerges
'The development of GLP-1 and incretin-based drugs has revolutionised the space. It has carved out the biggest class of drugs ever. And it has the power to truly revolutionise our health-span,' said Associate Professor Garron Dodd, head of the Metabolic Neuroscience Research Laboratory at the University of Melbourne and founder of Gallant Bio, which is developing its own obesity drugs. 'It's a glorious dawn, but it's just the start.'
Weight loss in a pill
Much as our eyes and ears sense the world and send data to our brains, our digestive tracts need ways of sending back data on what they are eating, and how much. They do this, in part, by secreting various chemical signals – hormones.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 is secreted by the intestines and triggers the pancreas to produce insulin. The first GLP-1 drugs took advantage of this to become powerful treatments for diabetes.
But GLP-1 has much wider effects beyond blood-sugar control. Receptors for the hormone spread throughout the body, even in the brain, where they trigger a feeling of fullness and decrease appetite. A once-weekly dose of semaglutide, plus lifestyle changes, led volunteers in a phase 3 trial to lose 14.9 per cent of their body weight over 15 months.
GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy essentially copy that human hormone. That makes them fragile. They need to be kept refrigerated, and injected subcutaneously rather than taken by mouth – as the stomach's acid would quickly break them down. An oral version of semaglutide has been developed, but only 1 per cent of the drug actually makes its way to the target receptors, and it appears less effective than the injectable version for weight loss.
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Researchers at Japan's Chugai Pharmaceutical Co figured out a way around this problem. They designed a small molecule that can bind to the same receptor as GLP-1 and trigger it. It mimics the effect without mimicking the structure. 'It's a development I never would have thought feasible,' said Professor Michael Horowitz, a University of Adelaide researcher who authored a commentary on the drug in the Lancet.
Chugai licensed the molecule to US-based Eli Lilly in 2018. Last week, the company reported participants on the highest dose in a clinical trial lost 7.9 per cent of their body weight over 40 weeks.
The full details of the trial have not yet been reported, and whether the weight loss is maintained over the longer term is unclear. More than a quarter of patients reported diarrhoea, 16 per cent nausea and 14 per cent vomiting.
The preliminary results are 'close enough to broadly call it similar' to semaglutide, said Professor Jonathan Shaw, who led the Australian arm of Lilly's trial at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne. 'I don't think we can confidently say it's better or worse. It's definitely in the same ballpark.'
It's also not known if the drug will offer the range of other benefits that GLP-1 inhibitors provide in addition to weight loss, like reductions in cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's risk (and maybe even addictive behaviours).
Horowitz said the efficacy data was promising, but he wanted to see more information about adverse effects, which he said were understated generally across semaglutide trials because they relied on patients to report their own side effects. 'It hasn't served the interests of pharma to quantify how well this is tolerated.'
Pfizer was developing a similar once-daily GLP-1 pill but cancelled the program in April after a patient in a clinical trial suffered liver damage.
A pill should, theoretically, be cheaper and easier to make than an injector – Novo Nordisk, maker of Wegovy and its diabetes drug antecedent Ozempic, has struggled to keep up with demand for semaglutide – and dramatically easier to transport. At present, the drug must be kept refrigerated right from European factories to a patient's home. 'That all adds to the cost,' said Shaw.
There could also be cost benefits from increased competition as more drugs are approved – possibly pushing the price down far enough for governments to consider subsidising it. Lilly expects to apply for regulatory approval for the drug later this year.
While orforglipron has attracted the most excitement – Eli Lilly's shares have surged since they announced the trial results – it is just one of several new drugs in late-stage development.
These drugs might be of particular value to 15 per cent or so of people whose bodies do not seem to respond to semaglutide. And people don't seem to stay on the injectable drugs – less than half are still using them a year later, per a study 2024 study – despite the fact weight rebound is likely if you stop using them. 'Is it the injection? Is it the cost? Or is it due to adverse effects? We don't know,' said Horowitz.
The new drugs might also offer weight-loss benefits. Mounjaro, for example, mimics both GLP-1 and the gastric inhibitory polypeptide, which increases metabolism and appears to lead to better weight-loss results. The new drugs, like Lilly's retatrutide, target even more receptors, with the hope of even greater effects.
It's all good news for Rochelle McDonald. She does not mind taking a weekly injection – 'the stabby-stab' – now she's found ways of coping with the side effects. But paying $240 a month for her current dose of the medicine is 'a commitment in itself'.
'I think a daily pill would be good,' she said. 'If it comes in at a good price point.'
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Inside aged care: what our elderly Australians are eating may shock you
Bread with sausage is one of the meals served to Australians in aged care as they survive on a $15.49 daily food allowance. Nutritionist and University of Melbourne research fellow, Dr Sandra Iuliano, told ACM that food quality varied greatly in aged care homes around Australia. Residents might get crumbed lamb cutlets, with a side of potato bake, carrots, peas, zucchini, corn, and mushroom gravy. But some do not. "Some of the food I would pay to eat at a restaurant," Dr Iuliano said. But party pies were not that unusual either, she said. "It appears things may not necessarily be better since the Royal Commission." The Royal Commission into Aged Care final report in 2021 made for stark reading. It found "staggering" rates of malnutrition in Australian aged care homes. Food and nutrition were singled out as one of four areas in "urgent need of improvement." Search below for an aged care home: It was estimated that some aged care providers were spending as little as $6 a day on meals for each aged care resident. Poor nutrition was related to falls, fractures, pressure injuries and unnecessary hospitalisation, the report found. In response, the federal government introduced the Basic Daily Fee supplement in 2022, which incorporated a payment to providers of $10 per resident per day to improve the quality of food as well as the general daily needs of residents. The October-December 2024 Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector found the median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector to be $15.49 per resident per day. Dr Iuliano said an increase in that monetary amount did not necessarily indicate the situation had improved dramatically. "They are spending more, but the cost of food has gone up a lot as well," said Dr Iuliano. "And if they are spending more, we still don't know what they are buying." A federal Health Department spokesperson told ACM that older Australians had worked their whole lives, "so they deserve tasty, nutritious food that improves their quality of life in aged care. "With the culinary talent of the Maggie Beer Foundation food program, older people are getting quality nutrition and tasty food no matter the aged care facility." "There has been an increase in the daily per-resident spend on food, and a decrease in the prevalence of significant unexpected weight loss in residential aged care," the spokesperson said. The Albanese Government had also introduced a new Food Standard "as part of our once-in-a-generation aged care reforms to ensure the quality of food, safety and nutrition will continue to increase". The median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector at $15.49 per resident per day, was an overall increase of $0.92 on quarter 2, 2023-24. This also represents an increase of $0.57 from the previous quarter (Q1 2024-25), up from $14.92. Residential aged care providers spending less than $10 per resident per day on food and ingredients are referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, according to the federal government. Dr Iuliano said there were still indications that nutritional needs were not always being met in aged care homes. "We have done some research in that interim period," Dr Iuliano said. "While some improvements are apparent if you look at the high protein foods - from the dairy and meat food groups - some are still not providing recommended intake levels". The federal government's new Aged Care Quality Standards for food and nutrition, as part of the Aged Care Act 2024, will be implemented in November 2025. It's the first time nutrition has been mentioned in the Act. "The first thing is to put food in the spotlight," Dr Iuliano said. "That's a good thing. The previous act had no distinct mention of food or nutrition. It's made it an important part of their care." The aged care sector was under increasing pressure as the nation's population aged, Dr Iuliano said. "The key is we still need to respect the older adults in care," she said. Fancy curried lentil and pumpkin soup and butter chicken curry with naan bread. For dessert, try lemon meringue pie with cream, or homemade sticky date pudding. It could be the menu of a premium restaurant. Instead, it's dinner at Uralba Hostel for Aged Care in Gundagai in the NSW Riverina. Uralba Hostel was nominated in May as one of the top aged care homes for food quality in the Department of Health and Ageing annual Residents' Experience survey of more than 30,000 aged care residents. Uralba manager Katie White said that all the food was prepared fresh, on-site. "This stimulates positive emotions and memories of home-cooked meals, providing comfort to our residents," she said. Not all aged care residents are so lucky. Do you know more? Email the journalist: Bread with sausage is one of the meals served to Australians in aged care as they survive on a $15.49 daily food allowance. Nutritionist and University of Melbourne research fellow, Dr Sandra Iuliano, told ACM that food quality varied greatly in aged care homes around Australia. Residents might get crumbed lamb cutlets, with a side of potato bake, carrots, peas, zucchini, corn, and mushroom gravy. But some do not. "Some of the food I would pay to eat at a restaurant," Dr Iuliano said. But party pies were not that unusual either, she said. "It appears things may not necessarily be better since the Royal Commission." The Royal Commission into Aged Care final report in 2021 made for stark reading. It found "staggering" rates of malnutrition in Australian aged care homes. Food and nutrition were singled out as one of four areas in "urgent need of improvement." Search below for an aged care home: It was estimated that some aged care providers were spending as little as $6 a day on meals for each aged care resident. Poor nutrition was related to falls, fractures, pressure injuries and unnecessary hospitalisation, the report found. In response, the federal government introduced the Basic Daily Fee supplement in 2022, which incorporated a payment to providers of $10 per resident per day to improve the quality of food as well as the general daily needs of residents. The October-December 2024 Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector found the median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector to be $15.49 per resident per day. Dr Iuliano said an increase in that monetary amount did not necessarily indicate the situation had improved dramatically. "They are spending more, but the cost of food has gone up a lot as well," said Dr Iuliano. "And if they are spending more, we still don't know what they are buying." A federal Health Department spokesperson told ACM that older Australians had worked their whole lives, "so they deserve tasty, nutritious food that improves their quality of life in aged care. "With the culinary talent of the Maggie Beer Foundation food program, older people are getting quality nutrition and tasty food no matter the aged care facility." "There has been an increase in the daily per-resident spend on food, and a decrease in the prevalence of significant unexpected weight loss in residential aged care," the spokesperson said. The Albanese Government had also introduced a new Food Standard "as part of our once-in-a-generation aged care reforms to ensure the quality of food, safety and nutrition will continue to increase". The median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector at $15.49 per resident per day, was an overall increase of $0.92 on quarter 2, 2023-24. This also represents an increase of $0.57 from the previous quarter (Q1 2024-25), up from $14.92. Residential aged care providers spending less than $10 per resident per day on food and ingredients are referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, according to the federal government. Dr Iuliano said there were still indications that nutritional needs were not always being met in aged care homes. "We have done some research in that interim period," Dr Iuliano said. "While some improvements are apparent if you look at the high protein foods - from the dairy and meat food groups - some are still not providing recommended intake levels". The federal government's new Aged Care Quality Standards for food and nutrition, as part of the Aged Care Act 2024, will be implemented in November 2025. It's the first time nutrition has been mentioned in the Act. "The first thing is to put food in the spotlight," Dr Iuliano said. "That's a good thing. The previous act had no distinct mention of food or nutrition. It's made it an important part of their care." The aged care sector was under increasing pressure as the nation's population aged, Dr Iuliano said. "The key is we still need to respect the older adults in care," she said. Fancy curried lentil and pumpkin soup and butter chicken curry with naan bread. For dessert, try lemon meringue pie with cream, or homemade sticky date pudding. It could be the menu of a premium restaurant. Instead, it's dinner at Uralba Hostel for Aged Care in Gundagai in the NSW Riverina. Uralba Hostel was nominated in May as one of the top aged care homes for food quality in the Department of Health and Ageing annual Residents' Experience survey of more than 30,000 aged care residents. Uralba manager Katie White said that all the food was prepared fresh, on-site. "This stimulates positive emotions and memories of home-cooked meals, providing comfort to our residents," she said. Not all aged care residents are so lucky. Do you know more? Email the journalist: Bread with sausage is one of the meals served to Australians in aged care as they survive on a $15.49 daily food allowance. Nutritionist and University of Melbourne research fellow, Dr Sandra Iuliano, told ACM that food quality varied greatly in aged care homes around Australia. Residents might get crumbed lamb cutlets, with a side of potato bake, carrots, peas, zucchini, corn, and mushroom gravy. But some do not. "Some of the food I would pay to eat at a restaurant," Dr Iuliano said. But party pies were not that unusual either, she said. "It appears things may not necessarily be better since the Royal Commission." The Royal Commission into Aged Care final report in 2021 made for stark reading. It found "staggering" rates of malnutrition in Australian aged care homes. Food and nutrition were singled out as one of four areas in "urgent need of improvement." Search below for an aged care home: It was estimated that some aged care providers were spending as little as $6 a day on meals for each aged care resident. Poor nutrition was related to falls, fractures, pressure injuries and unnecessary hospitalisation, the report found. In response, the federal government introduced the Basic Daily Fee supplement in 2022, which incorporated a payment to providers of $10 per resident per day to improve the quality of food as well as the general daily needs of residents. The October-December 2024 Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector found the median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector to be $15.49 per resident per day. Dr Iuliano said an increase in that monetary amount did not necessarily indicate the situation had improved dramatically. "They are spending more, but the cost of food has gone up a lot as well," said Dr Iuliano. "And if they are spending more, we still don't know what they are buying." A federal Health Department spokesperson told ACM that older Australians had worked their whole lives, "so they deserve tasty, nutritious food that improves their quality of life in aged care. "With the culinary talent of the Maggie Beer Foundation food program, older people are getting quality nutrition and tasty food no matter the aged care facility." "There has been an increase in the daily per-resident spend on food, and a decrease in the prevalence of significant unexpected weight loss in residential aged care," the spokesperson said. The Albanese Government had also introduced a new Food Standard "as part of our once-in-a-generation aged care reforms to ensure the quality of food, safety and nutrition will continue to increase". The median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector at $15.49 per resident per day, was an overall increase of $0.92 on quarter 2, 2023-24. This also represents an increase of $0.57 from the previous quarter (Q1 2024-25), up from $14.92. Residential aged care providers spending less than $10 per resident per day on food and ingredients are referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, according to the federal government. Dr Iuliano said there were still indications that nutritional needs were not always being met in aged care homes. "We have done some research in that interim period," Dr Iuliano said. "While some improvements are apparent if you look at the high protein foods - from the dairy and meat food groups - some are still not providing recommended intake levels". The federal government's new Aged Care Quality Standards for food and nutrition, as part of the Aged Care Act 2024, will be implemented in November 2025. It's the first time nutrition has been mentioned in the Act. "The first thing is to put food in the spotlight," Dr Iuliano said. "That's a good thing. The previous act had no distinct mention of food or nutrition. It's made it an important part of their care." The aged care sector was under increasing pressure as the nation's population aged, Dr Iuliano said. "The key is we still need to respect the older adults in care," she said. Fancy curried lentil and pumpkin soup and butter chicken curry with naan bread. For dessert, try lemon meringue pie with cream, or homemade sticky date pudding. It could be the menu of a premium restaurant. Instead, it's dinner at Uralba Hostel for Aged Care in Gundagai in the NSW Riverina. Uralba Hostel was nominated in May as one of the top aged care homes for food quality in the Department of Health and Ageing annual Residents' Experience survey of more than 30,000 aged care residents. Uralba manager Katie White said that all the food was prepared fresh, on-site. "This stimulates positive emotions and memories of home-cooked meals, providing comfort to our residents," she said. Not all aged care residents are so lucky. Do you know more? Email the journalist: Bread with sausage is one of the meals served to Australians in aged care as they survive on a $15.49 daily food allowance. Nutritionist and University of Melbourne research fellow, Dr Sandra Iuliano, told ACM that food quality varied greatly in aged care homes around Australia. Residents might get crumbed lamb cutlets, with a side of potato bake, carrots, peas, zucchini, corn, and mushroom gravy. But some do not. "Some of the food I would pay to eat at a restaurant," Dr Iuliano said. But party pies were not that unusual either, she said. "It appears things may not necessarily be better since the Royal Commission." The Royal Commission into Aged Care final report in 2021 made for stark reading. It found "staggering" rates of malnutrition in Australian aged care homes. Food and nutrition were singled out as one of four areas in "urgent need of improvement." Search below for an aged care home: It was estimated that some aged care providers were spending as little as $6 a day on meals for each aged care resident. Poor nutrition was related to falls, fractures, pressure injuries and unnecessary hospitalisation, the report found. In response, the federal government introduced the Basic Daily Fee supplement in 2022, which incorporated a payment to providers of $10 per resident per day to improve the quality of food as well as the general daily needs of residents. The October-December 2024 Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector found the median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector to be $15.49 per resident per day. Dr Iuliano said an increase in that monetary amount did not necessarily indicate the situation had improved dramatically. "They are spending more, but the cost of food has gone up a lot as well," said Dr Iuliano. "And if they are spending more, we still don't know what they are buying." A federal Health Department spokesperson told ACM that older Australians had worked their whole lives, "so they deserve tasty, nutritious food that improves their quality of life in aged care. "With the culinary talent of the Maggie Beer Foundation food program, older people are getting quality nutrition and tasty food no matter the aged care facility." "There has been an increase in the daily per-resident spend on food, and a decrease in the prevalence of significant unexpected weight loss in residential aged care," the spokesperson said. The Albanese Government had also introduced a new Food Standard "as part of our once-in-a-generation aged care reforms to ensure the quality of food, safety and nutrition will continue to increase". The median total expenditure on food and ingredients for the sector at $15.49 per resident per day, was an overall increase of $0.92 on quarter 2, 2023-24. This also represents an increase of $0.57 from the previous quarter (Q1 2024-25), up from $14.92. Residential aged care providers spending less than $10 per resident per day on food and ingredients are referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, according to the federal government. Dr Iuliano said there were still indications that nutritional needs were not always being met in aged care homes. "We have done some research in that interim period," Dr Iuliano said. "While some improvements are apparent if you look at the high protein foods - from the dairy and meat food groups - some are still not providing recommended intake levels". The federal government's new Aged Care Quality Standards for food and nutrition, as part of the Aged Care Act 2024, will be implemented in November 2025. It's the first time nutrition has been mentioned in the Act. "The first thing is to put food in the spotlight," Dr Iuliano said. "That's a good thing. The previous act had no distinct mention of food or nutrition. It's made it an important part of their care." The aged care sector was under increasing pressure as the nation's population aged, Dr Iuliano said. "The key is we still need to respect the older adults in care," she said. Fancy curried lentil and pumpkin soup and butter chicken curry with naan bread. For dessert, try lemon meringue pie with cream, or homemade sticky date pudding. It could be the menu of a premium restaurant. Instead, it's dinner at Uralba Hostel for Aged Care in Gundagai in the NSW Riverina. Uralba Hostel was nominated in May as one of the top aged care homes for food quality in the Department of Health and Ageing annual Residents' Experience survey of more than 30,000 aged care residents. Uralba manager Katie White said that all the food was prepared fresh, on-site. "This stimulates positive emotions and memories of home-cooked meals, providing comfort to our residents," she said. Not all aged care residents are so lucky. Do you know more? Email the journalist:
9 News
4 hours ago
- 9 News
Australia is responsible for one in five shark products seized at NZ borders
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Scientists have revealed that while the amount of shark products seized at the Australian border has declined, we're not off the hook entirely when it comes to the shark trade. Research from the University of Adelaide showed that shark products entering Australia between 2009 and 2023 predominantly came from Asia. But one in five shark products – including fin products and "trophies" like preserved specimens – seized at New Zealand's borders came from Australia. One in five shark products – including fin products and preserved specimens – seized at New Zealand's borders came from Australia. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) It was the last thing University of Adelaide PhD candidate Josephine Lingard expected to uncover. "That was one of the really surprising things that we weren't expecting to see," she told Of 290 shark product seizures recorded in New Zealand over 15 years, 58 were recorded as having come from Australia, according to seizure data from biosecurity and government agencies. But there's almost no way of knowing where in Australia they came from – or whether they originated from within Australian waters. "They could be sharks being fished and their products processed and manufactured in Australia, then taken out to New Zealand," Lingard said. "Or they could be products where Australia is a stopover point on the way to New Zealand, and the bags just aren't being searched properly until they get to New Zealand." In that case, Australia could be marked as the country of origin in seizure data even if it's not where the shark products originally came from. Information taken from Australian seizure data was similarly limited. The research demonstrates flaws in current record-keeping in Australia and abroad when it comes to shark products being imported to or exported from Australia. Preserved shark specimens like this one used for zoological studies were among the shark products seized at NZ borders. (Getty) Some of the seizure records Lingard reviewed contained extremely limited information, like one which simply described a preserved shark specimen as "a shark in blue liquid". No detail was given about the shark which could be used to identify if the species is protected, or the liquid it was preserved in. In fact, less than one per cent of seizure records from Australia and New Zealand contained species-specific information. Other records contained relevant information about shark products found on passenger planes or in unaccompanied mail, but it was recorded in the wrong section. "I think there's enough of them [shark products] coming through that they [border agents] are not super surprised when they see them," Lingard said. "But we need more complete records when these products are investigated at our borders." Better documentation could contribute to additional research into Australia's role in international shark trade and help ensure that endangered and protected species aren't being fished, imported or exported illegally in Australia. Great White Sharks are among the protected species that cannot be fished in Australia. (Getty) Select shark species, like the gummy shark, can be legally fished in large parts of Australia and their meat is used to make flake, a common staple at fish and chip shops. Others are protected by government legislation but that doesn't stop them from turning up on people's plates. One 2024 study found that about 10 per cent of shark products labelled as flake in Australia were actually from threatened species. Shark products can be imported to Australia provided they meet specific import conditions. Some products require a wildlife trade permit or other approvals from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). World sharks shark animals border science CONTACT US
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Red alert for furry friends on sweltering hot days
Extremely hot days are not friendly to man's best friend. Days above 32C have been linked to a nearly 10 per cent spike in dog death risk, research suggests. Older animals, pets with existing health conditions and flat-faced breeds are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, but all dogs are at risk as they cannot sweat effectively and rely on panting and drinking water to stay cool. University of NSW researchers have found a clear link between dog deaths and hot, humid days, with the risk of mortality increasing by one per cent for every degree above 25C. Animal ecologist from the university and lead author of the analysis of NSW veterinary data, Joy Tripovich, said the findings underlined the seriousness of pet heat stress in a nation prone to hot weather. "Given that we're expecting these extreme weather events to happen with more frequency and intensity mean it's something to make people aware of," Dr Tripovich told AAP. Greater concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are expected to produce more heatwaves, with the Climate Council anticipating double the amount of 35C days each year by 2050 for nearly a third of Australian communities. Authorities had become better at warning people ahead of extremely hot days and Dr Tripovich said those alerts should be heeded for pets. "We can then proactively plan, you know, 'does my dog have access to fresh water, shade and a ventilated area? Can it be kept inside?'," she told AAP. Dogs exhibiting signs of heat stress should be taken to the vet as soon as possible, she said. The analysis of 20 years of state vet data also revealed a sharp spike in dog death risk on public holidays and weekends, irrespective of heat conditions. On public holidays, dog deaths surge a massive 155 per cent. Sundays experience nearly twice as many mortalities compared with other days of the week. There are a number of different explanations for higher dog deaths on weekends and public holidays, including vets are either closed or appointments more expensive. Owners are also more likely to be either taking their dogs out and about, which may put them at greater risk of heat stress due to too much physical activity. Extremely hot days are not friendly to man's best friend. Days above 32C have been linked to a nearly 10 per cent spike in dog death risk, research suggests. Older animals, pets with existing health conditions and flat-faced breeds are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, but all dogs are at risk as they cannot sweat effectively and rely on panting and drinking water to stay cool. University of NSW researchers have found a clear link between dog deaths and hot, humid days, with the risk of mortality increasing by one per cent for every degree above 25C. Animal ecologist from the university and lead author of the analysis of NSW veterinary data, Joy Tripovich, said the findings underlined the seriousness of pet heat stress in a nation prone to hot weather. "Given that we're expecting these extreme weather events to happen with more frequency and intensity mean it's something to make people aware of," Dr Tripovich told AAP. Greater concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are expected to produce more heatwaves, with the Climate Council anticipating double the amount of 35C days each year by 2050 for nearly a third of Australian communities. Authorities had become better at warning people ahead of extremely hot days and Dr Tripovich said those alerts should be heeded for pets. "We can then proactively plan, you know, 'does my dog have access to fresh water, shade and a ventilated area? Can it be kept inside?'," she told AAP. Dogs exhibiting signs of heat stress should be taken to the vet as soon as possible, she said. The analysis of 20 years of state vet data also revealed a sharp spike in dog death risk on public holidays and weekends, irrespective of heat conditions. On public holidays, dog deaths surge a massive 155 per cent. Sundays experience nearly twice as many mortalities compared with other days of the week. There are a number of different explanations for higher dog deaths on weekends and public holidays, including vets are either closed or appointments more expensive. Owners are also more likely to be either taking their dogs out and about, which may put them at greater risk of heat stress due to too much physical activity. Extremely hot days are not friendly to man's best friend. Days above 32C have been linked to a nearly 10 per cent spike in dog death risk, research suggests. Older animals, pets with existing health conditions and flat-faced breeds are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, but all dogs are at risk as they cannot sweat effectively and rely on panting and drinking water to stay cool. University of NSW researchers have found a clear link between dog deaths and hot, humid days, with the risk of mortality increasing by one per cent for every degree above 25C. Animal ecologist from the university and lead author of the analysis of NSW veterinary data, Joy Tripovich, said the findings underlined the seriousness of pet heat stress in a nation prone to hot weather. "Given that we're expecting these extreme weather events to happen with more frequency and intensity mean it's something to make people aware of," Dr Tripovich told AAP. Greater concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are expected to produce more heatwaves, with the Climate Council anticipating double the amount of 35C days each year by 2050 for nearly a third of Australian communities. Authorities had become better at warning people ahead of extremely hot days and Dr Tripovich said those alerts should be heeded for pets. "We can then proactively plan, you know, 'does my dog have access to fresh water, shade and a ventilated area? Can it be kept inside?'," she told AAP. Dogs exhibiting signs of heat stress should be taken to the vet as soon as possible, she said. The analysis of 20 years of state vet data also revealed a sharp spike in dog death risk on public holidays and weekends, irrespective of heat conditions. On public holidays, dog deaths surge a massive 155 per cent. Sundays experience nearly twice as many mortalities compared with other days of the week. There are a number of different explanations for higher dog deaths on weekends and public holidays, including vets are either closed or appointments more expensive. Owners are also more likely to be either taking their dogs out and about, which may put them at greater risk of heat stress due to too much physical activity. Extremely hot days are not friendly to man's best friend. Days above 32C have been linked to a nearly 10 per cent spike in dog death risk, research suggests. Older animals, pets with existing health conditions and flat-faced breeds are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, but all dogs are at risk as they cannot sweat effectively and rely on panting and drinking water to stay cool. University of NSW researchers have found a clear link between dog deaths and hot, humid days, with the risk of mortality increasing by one per cent for every degree above 25C. Animal ecologist from the university and lead author of the analysis of NSW veterinary data, Joy Tripovich, said the findings underlined the seriousness of pet heat stress in a nation prone to hot weather. "Given that we're expecting these extreme weather events to happen with more frequency and intensity mean it's something to make people aware of," Dr Tripovich told AAP. Greater concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are expected to produce more heatwaves, with the Climate Council anticipating double the amount of 35C days each year by 2050 for nearly a third of Australian communities. Authorities had become better at warning people ahead of extremely hot days and Dr Tripovich said those alerts should be heeded for pets. "We can then proactively plan, you know, 'does my dog have access to fresh water, shade and a ventilated area? Can it be kept inside?'," she told AAP. Dogs exhibiting signs of heat stress should be taken to the vet as soon as possible, she said. The analysis of 20 years of state vet data also revealed a sharp spike in dog death risk on public holidays and weekends, irrespective of heat conditions. On public holidays, dog deaths surge a massive 155 per cent. Sundays experience nearly twice as many mortalities compared with other days of the week. There are a number of different explanations for higher dog deaths on weekends and public holidays, including vets are either closed or appointments more expensive. Owners are also more likely to be either taking their dogs out and about, which may put them at greater risk of heat stress due to too much physical activity.
