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Client Library Article
HEAT STROKE
| About Heat Stroke |
| Heat stroke is a very serious and
often life threatening condition seen primarily during the summer months
when pets, most commonly dogs, are left in unattended cars while owners are shopping. Heat
stroke can also occur in any situation where the body rapidly heats up such
as during a long seizure attack lasting longer than 20 minutes, dogs placed
in front of hair dryers, or when
animals choke or accidentally hang themselves by the collar. The affected
animal will
often be found delirious, semi-conscious, panting, and sometimes frantic.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency and the pet should be rushed immediately
to the nearest veterinary office or preferably to an emergency clinic.
While on route, the animal can be covered by cold wet towels, ice packs (put
a towel between the pack and the skin), and rubbing alcohol can be applied
to the dogs paw pads, but they should not be hosed down with cold water or
placed in a cold water bath. If the body temperature is lowered too
quickly, the pet is at a greater risk to develop multiple organ failure and
death. When the body’s temperature raises above 107 degrees,
the proteins in the body start to change causing severe multiple organ
failure, brain damage, and death if the temperature stays elevated for long
( minutes to hours). |
| Symptoms |
- Acute weakness & collapse
- T>106
- Possible seizures & convulsions
- Mental depression / semi-consciousness
- Coma
- Brick red gums
- Petechia (small red pin point dots on skin and gums due to bleeding )
- Coughing up blood
- Vomiting blood
- Bloody or tarry diarrhea
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| Diagnosis |
| A tentative diagnosis of heat stroke is made when the body
temperature is > 106 degrees or higher on presentation. The veterinarian
uses the history to determine if the high body temperature is due to an
external cause (dog locked in hot car), or an internal cause (dog with
epilepsy has been seizuring for past 2 hours). Heat stroke dogs are
critical patients and require extensive diagnostics and monitoring
including serial blood work, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, frequent
temperature, ECG for monitoring the heart rhythm, and radiographs to
identify fluid buildup in the lungs. Blood work is used to look for damage
to the liver and kidneys, to monitor blood gasses and the pH of the body,
and to look for decreases in the red & white blood cell counts and platelet
counts. Coagulation times are also used to monitor the dog’s ability to
clot and urine production should be monitored to ensure that the kidney has
not shut down. All of these parameters are monitored one to several times
a day to monitor progress (or deterioration), and direct appropriate
therapy. |
| Therapy |
| The first goal of the treatment of heat stroke victims is
to cool the body fairly quickly but not to allow the temperature to plummet below normal body temperature. All dogs should be put instantly on
supplemental oxygen, and started on high volumes of IV fluids to restore
blood pressure and tissue perfusion- especially to the brain, heart, and
kidneys. Many veterinarians will also treat with steroids, antibiotics, and
sometimes diuretics if there has been no urine production from the kidney,
or if fluid has built up in the lung (pulmonary edema). Abnormality in the
rhythm of the heart can be treated with lidocaine if necessary. The heart
develops arrythmias secondary to a lack of oxygen delivered to the heart
muscle during the period of high body temperature. If the bleeding times are
prolonged and the dog can not clot normally, a plasma or fresh whole blood
transfusion can be given. The treatment is very aggressive and very costly,
with no guaranteed of a favorable outcome. Most dogs must be treated very
aggressively for several days in the hospital . |
| Prognosis |
| Guarded to poor depending on the duration of the high
temperature endured, and any pre-existing conditions that may have
predisposed the dog to severe hyperthermia. Owners should be prepared for a
lengthy (at least 2-4 days minimum) stay in the hospital and a potentially
expensive bill of between $2000-$4000 or more for seriously ill dogs.
Even with very aggressive therapy, many dogs still die due to kidney failure
and systemic multiple organ failure. |
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Prevention
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The majority of heat stroke dogs can be prevented by
never leaving a dog unattended in a car (even if the weather is cool), in
front of hair dryers, or tied up in the yard where a dog can potentially
hang themselves (such as on a deck). If your dog has a seizure which lasts
for more than 5 minutes, take the dog immediately to an emergency hospital
for seizure control before the body temperature rises too high. Grey Hounds
are prone to heat stroke and should be watched carefully.
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