Vetnuus | December 2025 19 24-Hour Toll-Free Helpline: 0800 21 21 21 Editorial Piece Editor: Which of the many research projects were the closest to your heart and that you think made the biggest impact? Dr Otto: It is hard to pinpoint one specific study. We have a couple of areas of high impact. One is canine medical detection. We are not the only ones in this field, but we feel like we bring a rigour to it and that opens doors to all sorts of possibilities – truly a one health impact – human, animal and the environment! Our fitness studies are ongoing and robust. Our program initially was called Fit to Work, but now we have renamed it Canimetrics – a measurable way to keep your K9 fit to work. We firmly believe that comprehensive fitness and strength training reduce injuries and improve recovery from injury. Our most recent high-impact study has been on cooling after exercise. We have described a novel approach to canine cooling that incorporates cooperative care: The Voluntary Head Dunk. Parnes SC, Mallikarjun A, Ramos MT, Cappelli TR, Otto CM. Voluntary Head Dunking After Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia Rapidly Reduces Core Body Temperature in Dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2024 Sep 4;262(12):1613-1621. doi: 10.2460/javma.24.06.0368. PMID: 39293468. Otto CM, Heyer A, Berkowitz V. Voluntary head dunk: cooperative care for irrigating canine noses and eyes and rapid cooling. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2024 Sep 18:1. Doi: 10.2460/javma.. 24.07.0480. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39293481. (this is the video showing how to teach it.) Editor: How did your research impact One Health? Dr Otto: The medical detection (see above), but also supporting the human animal bond, the way we raise and train our dogs is based on the partnership between humans and dogs and the mutual benefit. Editor: What was the strangest thing you discovered in any of the research projects? Dr Otto: To me, the strangest thing is something we have not yet discovered – but how do dogs find concealed live humans in a rubble pile in which they don’t know who they are looking for, and there are large numbers of humans in the environment, but not concealed, and they ignore them. Every time I watch them search, it still instils awe and wonder. v We thank Dr Otto for her time and dedication to both the animals and humans with the most important work of caring for both. We, the members of the Association, resolve at all times: • To honour our profession and the Veterinary Oath • To maintain and uphold high professional and scientific standards • To use our professional knowledge, skills and resources to protect and promote the health and welfare of animals and humans • To further the status and image of the veterinarian and to foster and enrich veterinary science • To promote the interests of our Association and fellowship amongst its members. Ons, die lede van die Vereniging, onderneem om te alle tye: • Ons professie in ere te hou en die Eed na te kom • ‘n Hoë professionele en wetenskaplike peil te handhaaf en te onderhou • Ons professionele kennis, vaardigheid en hulpbronne aan te wend ter beskerming en bevordering van die gesondheid en welsyn van dier en mens • Die status en beeld van die veearts te bevorder en die veeartsenykunde te verryk • Die belange van ons Vereniging en die genootskap tussen sy lede te bevorder. CREDO
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