Early to bed, early to rise makes you healthy, Monash University researchers find
Early to bed, early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy, and wise the truism goes, but Australian scientists have found a link between people who do not stay up late and better physical activity.
Now researchers at Monash University have found the optimal bed time for those looking to increase exercise and physical activity when you wake is 9pm.
As part of the study, those who went to bed at 9pm logged a half hour more of moderate-to-vigorous exercise the following day, compared to night owls who did not sleep until 1am.
Even those who went to sleep at the study's average sleep time of 11pm recorded 15 minutes fewer physical activity the next day.
In good news, the researchers also found people can alter their sleep to improve their exercise, with those who went to sleep earlier than usual and got their regular amount of sleep recording the highest levels of physical activity the next day.
Nearly 20,000 sleepers were tracked via a biometric device for a year, resulting in almost six million nights of data.
Monash University School of Psychological Sciences' Josh Leota said standard work day may have had an impact on those who go to be later in the evening.
'Standard 9-to-5 routines can clash with the natural sleep preferences of evening types, leading to social jetlag, poorer sleep quality, and increased daytime sleepiness — which can all reduce motivation and opportunity for physical activity the next day,' Dr Leota said.
'These insights carry meaningful implications for public health.
'Rather than just promoting sleep and physical activity independently, health campaigns could encourage earlier bedtimes to naturally foster more active lifestyles.
'A holistic approach that recognises how these two essential behaviours interact may lead to better outcomes for individual and community health.'
Senior author Dr Elise Facer-Child said there was a strong relationship between sleep timing and physical activity.
'Sleep and physical activity are both critical to health, but until now we didn't fully grasp how intricately connected they are in everyday life,' she said.
'Our findings are consistent across different populations, and show that if you can get to sleep earlier than usual whilst keeping your sleep duration the same, you may be more likely to increase your physical activity the following day.'
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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
3 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
7 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.
