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Thread: Important Info 4 Dogs at OP6

  1. #1
    MJ19
    If you are bringing your dogs, please take a few minutes to read this information and be prepared for 115 degree on Saturday.
    Heat Stroke Info...Click Here
    Dr. Henry De Boer
    Working K-9 Veterinary Consultation Service
    Question: A friend of mine lost his dog early this spring to heat stroke. What is heat stroke and how should it be prevented or treated?
    Answer: In my experience as a veterinarian and as a working dog trainer and handler, I have attended to far more cases of heat stroke in the spring or fall than I have during the summer months. Most people are conscious of the risks and predisposing causes of heat stroke in the summer and take appropriate precautions. Many people, however, drop their guard during other seasons, which can lead to a possible disaster. Heat stroke is most likely to occur when we are less conscientious about how heat, muscular exertion and confinement can affect our dogs.
    Heat stroke occurs when the dog's ability to regulate its body temperature is lost. A dog regulates body temperature primarily through respiration. When the respiratory tract cannot evacuate heat quickly enough, the body temperature rises. Normal body temperature is less than 103F, but once the temperature goes over 105F a number of physiologic events can occur that make it even more difficult for the animal to regain control of its temperature. At this time, oxygen delivery to the system cannot keep up with rapidly elevating demand. If the temperature exceeds 108F, cellular damage starts to occur in a number of organ systems including the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, heart and brain. The extent of the cellular damage depends on the magnitude and the duration of the temperature elevation. Clearly, this can be a life-threatening situation, but for those animals that survive there is the possibility of long term problems after the occurrence.
    There are a number of predisposing factors for heat stroke. Some of the most significant are listed here:
    Heat
    Humidity
    Muscular activity
    High body mass
    Anxiety
    Poor ventilation
    Dehydration
    Obesity
    Antihistamines
    Phenothiazines (some medications for vomiting)
    Brachycephalic breeds (short-nosed breeds)
    Increased age
    Dogs experiencing heat stroke will have a muddy pink color of their gums instead of the nice red-pink color that normally exists. Their heart rate will be dramatically elevated, and they will be panting furiously. They tend to stand or walk very slowly without regard to where they are. Some will lay on their sternum. Most dogs will have a wild or panicked expression and are not particularly aware of their environment. Any combination of these symptoms should have an owner scrambling for a rectal thermometer and taking those steps necessary to help drive the temperature back down. If a thermometer is not available, presume it to be heat stroke and initiate treatment. If the animal does not respond favorably, the diagnosis can be reevaluated later. Significantly delaying the treatment of heat stroke can dramatically increase the risk of long-term consequences or death.
    Heat stroke is an emergency that requires veterinary assistance, but you can effectively initiate treatment in most cases before heading for the veterinary hospital. You must aggressively assist the dog's efforts to lower body temperature with the use of water and air. Since the lungs cannot keep up with the heat buildup, we now have to cool the skin and associated blood vessels so the body's temperature will decrease. Submersion of the dog in cool water will start to bring the temperature down quickly. You will want to avoid extremely cold water or ice since they cause the blood vessels in the skin to constrict and will not allow for a meaningful heat exchange. If there isn't anything available to submerse the dog in, you can start wetting him down with a hose. Wet him down all over, but let the water run continuously in the groin area since there are large numbers of significant and relatively superficial blood vessels in that area that will allow for more rapid cooling of the blood. The dog should be in a well-ventilated, shady area to allow for evaporation of the water. Evaporation cools body temperatures very effectively. When you are transporting him to the veterinary hospital, keep the air conditioner on or the windows open, or use the back of a truck to increase evaporation. Do not use an enclosed style crate since it allows for very little evaporation or fresh cool air for the lungs. Do not cover the dog with a wet towel as it will prevent evaporation.
    Once the temperature starts dropping, you should seek veterinary assistance. It is advisable in most cases to start these animals on intravenous fluids and monitor kidney and liver function for at least several days. The necessity for this laboratory work depends on the magnitude and the duration of the elevated temperature, but even in relatively short mild occurrences, it is a wise precaution to take.
    Obviously prevention of heat stroke is a far better alternative than treatment. Everyone is aware of the risks of having a dog in a vehicle in the summer, but there are some less obvious risk factors that we all need to be aware of. Even moderate environmental temperatures can be very significant when there is little or no ventilation. Heavy muscular activity drives body temperatures up with alarming speed. Following intervals of high activity, return the dog to an air conditioned vehicle, or wet the dog down and go to an area that is shaded and preferably breezy to allow for evaporation. Do not wet the dog down and return it to an enclosed style crate, as you will be creating a steam bath like environment. Make sure there is access to reasonable volumes of cool fresh water both before and after activity. We also need to be conscious of those animals that are at increased risk, which would include those dogs that have high body mass, older dogs, and those that are carrying more weight than is normal for them. Being aware of the various risk factors as well as the environmental considerations should help all of us avoid this potentially devastating problem.
    [ June 15, 2003, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: MJ19 ]

  2. #2
    wsuwrhr
    Cool deal MJ. I am still undecided about bringing Mopar. I haven't had her in the boat yet, and it is pretty loud. She has a very mild temperment and I am afraid it will scare the shit out of her.
    I thought about leaving her in the motorhome, but if for some reason the air-conditioner quits, see above. I am still on the fence, I don't want to leave my dog, but I will if I have to.
    Brian

  3. #3
    wsuwrhr
    shot you five for being concerned for everyone here.
    Brian

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Posts
    10,871
    Hey Brian I know a great dog service in our area if you need. Come right to your house to feed and so on. Just PM me if you need.
    [ June 15, 2003, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: Rexone ]

  5. #5
    Napanutt
    Thanks Mrs.M,our fufu (Heidi) will be just fine...her mother is an RN...

  6. #6
    Raskal
    thanks for the info and also shot yah five for it .my dog is way to cool to lose to something that can be prevented like that

  7. #7
    MJ19
    wsuwrhr:
    Cool deal MJ. I am still undecided about bringing Mopar. I haven't had her in the boat yet, and it is pretty loud. She has a very mild temperment and I am afraid it will scare the shit out of her.
    I thought about leaving her in the motorhome, but if for some reason the air-conditioner quits, see above. I am still on the fence, I don't want to leave my dog, but I will if I have to.
    Brian Thanks for the 5er...and when in doubt don't...we haven't taken Molly out on the boat yet and we too are wondering about the noise...we are gunna leave her home, just because then we don't have to worry about where she is, what she's doing, if she's alright, etc...as much as I love doggies, I'd be a worry wart and I want to just relax and have a fun time!!!

  8. #8
    wsuwrhr
    Hey Mike,
    Thanks for the info. My mother-in-law has a monstrous black lab that is Mopars best friend. She is there all the time. I just don't like leaving my dog. What can I say.
    Brian

  9. #9
    MJ19
    wsuwrhr:
    Hey Mike,
    Thanks for the info. My mother-in-law has a monstrous black lab that is Mopars best friend. She is there all the time. I just don't like leaving my dog. What can I say.
    Brian Miller & I can totally relate...we hate leaving our pups. It seems like no on cares for them the same way. I don't know about you, but I miss my pups when I'm gone.
    I have really bad history with leaving my dog with someone else. Peaches (who's now passed on) was hit by a car twice in her life time, both times when I was out of town. Luckily she survived the hits. One left her crippled, but she lived another 7 years after that. So you can see when I say I can relate to the feeling of not wanting to leave your pup behind...I really can...I hate leaving my pups behind.
    But sometimes we feel they would be safer if we left them at home. And now when we leave them Miller's father comes over and takes care of them...our old guy (Buddy) actually likes visits from Grandpa a lot...our spoiled princess pup (Molly) is usually fine after a little while...but she is most happy when we are all home together, so we typically get a great big greeting when we get home.
    I know how you feel...it's a tough call and you gotta do what's right for you and your dog's well being. I'll be bringing liver treats regardless...but if you are concerned in the slightest of her getting heat stroke...leave her at home with her playmate...it's only a short vacation away and you can always call home to check on her
    I do...Miller laughs, but I call at least once a day if not more.

  10. #10
    Ziggy
    Haven't taken either of our dogs to river(old Jake went once 7-8 yrs ago)...to much to worry about with the heat so its best for them to stay put at home....grandpa loves to come take them for walks when we leave and they love it....then they just bark happily when we get home again.
    Maybe when it cools down again late Sept. or Oct would be a better time for them to enjoy the river.

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