Humans are not the only ones who experience heatstroke: our four-legged friends can suffer from it too.
And with summers getting more intense around the world, they are at more risk than ever.
The data speaks for itself, with the World Meteorological Organization confirming that 2024 was the warmest year on record.
Hong Kong, too, sweltered through scorching temperatures in 2024, logging its hottest year since records began in 1884 – and this year is shaping up to be another summer of hot weather warnings.
For veterinarians in the city, summers of soaring heat, combined with high levels of humidity and pollution, means that treating dogs for heat-related illnesses has become a frustrating cycle.
“Every summer, we see dogs in Hong Kong die from preventable heatstroke,” says Lloyd Kenda of Hong Kong’s Valley Veterinary Centre. “Unfortunately, this is a topic that needs to be repeated regularly.”