Hi, List,
I have posted this information next to my emergency info by the phone
for this HOT summer month.
Suze at Llawen Cavaliers (staying cool and air conditioned today!)
The following is posted by permission:
****************
ADMIN**before I let you read the rest I would like to add this
information
which is NEW to me and from a fellow Belgian owner and Vet, Dr. Linda
K.
Fung . Please if you save any of the follow information remember who
wrote
it and give credit. Then go and red the rest of the post. Its all
important!!**
========================
"Seek professional veterinary help immediately!!! Hyperthermia is
very
serious and can reult in seizures, te irreversible damage to major
organs, ie kidney/liver/brain, acute swelling to airways/pulmonary edema
1 Take the dogs temp rectally often temps are 106-109 F
2. Stop trying to cool the dog down once the body temp is at 103 F
***or you will cause irreversible damage***
3. Slowly cool, the dog down to normal temperature over 60 min or so--
cooling too rapidly causes tissue damage and also can cause Disseminated
Intravascular Coagulation (very serious, and mostly fatal bleeding
disorder) within hours to days after the episode.
Methods to cool your pet (only to 103F)
water--not ice water on body, alcohol on foot pads /whole body, ice on
feet, groin or head"
========================
HOT SUMMER TEMPERATURES COUPLED WITH HIGH HUMIDITY CAN OVERHEAT DOGS
MANHATTAN -- High humidity and soaring temperatures make for hot dogs.
The old saying that it's not the heat but the humidity that makes summer
days so miserable is particularly apt when it comes to dogs and their
well-being.
According to Dr. William Fortney, assistant professor of clinical
sciences
in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, dogs
become less efficient at cooling themselves as the humidity rises.
"Just like people, dogs are cooled by evaporation. The problem with high
humidity is that it decreases evaporation and slows down the cooling
process," Fortney said. "This time of year we hear a lot about the heat
index, which is a measurement of both the temperature and the humidity
level, and that is what an owner needs to pay close attention to."
There are other factors that hinder canines' ability to cool themselves.
They only have sweat glands on the pads of their feet and on their nose,
which are inadequate for cooling during hot and humid days, Fortney
said.
"Panting helps dogs cool themselves but they still aren't as efficient
at
cooling themselves as people are," Fortney added. "A dog's heavy coat
also
works against the cooling process which makes them that much more prone
to
heat exhaustion."
Fortney said there are several stages a dog suffering from heat
exhaustion
goes through. Heavy panting is the first. That soon gives way to huffing
and
puffing and the dog will lie down or collapse. If left untreated it will
slip into unconsciousness and die.
The first step pet owners should take if their dog is suffering from
heat
exhaustion is to cease all activity, get the animal out of the sun and
give
t water, Fortney said.
"The owner can then put the dog in the bath tub or let the garden hose
run
for a few seconds and then spray the dog down. Then it can be placed in
front of a fan which will aid in evaporation," Fortney said. "Ice bags
can
also be placed around the dog's head and neck."
Fortney also said it is important to start the cooling process as soon
as
possible.
"A person's first reaction might be to jump in the car and get the dog
to a
veterinarian, but in a case of heat exhaustion this is the wrong thing
to
do," Fortney said. "When a dog's temperature has reached 108 or 110
degrees
it can only take a couple of minutes before brain damage can occur. The
car
ride could take five to 10 minutes, so the owner needs to cool the dog
down
before taking it to a veterinarian."
There are several activities that can cause heat exhaustion in dogs,
such as
running, being outside for an extended period of time or just sitting in
the
sun for too long. However, Fortney said that the main cause for
over-heated
dogs is an avoidable situation that is all too common.
"A lot of the heat exhaustion cases we see are a result of dogs being
left
in a car," Fortney said. "A person can't crack the windows enough to
cool
down the dog without letting it out of the car. This is the worst case
scenario and it only takes a few minutes before it becomes a matter of
life
and death."
Prepared by Jason Nicol. For more information contact Dr. William
Fortney at
785-532-4135.
****
SIDEBAR
Because of the way dogs cool themselves, they are more susceptible to
heat
exhaustion than humans. Below are some steps for the identification and
treatment of heat exhaustion.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion:
* Heavy panting
* Dog begins huffing and puffing or gasping for air
* Dog begins to weave when it walks because of dizziness
* Dog lays down or collapses and can't get up
* Dog becomes unconscious
Depending on the seriousness of the situation, these are the steps an
owner
should take if your dog is suffering from heat exhaustion:
1. Move the dog out of the sun and into the shade or into an
air-conditioned
building.
2. Give the dog water to drink.
3. Rinse the dog off either in the bath tub or with a garden hose.
4. Place the dog in front of a fan while it is still damp.
5. Place ice bags around the dog's head and neck.
6. Take the dog to the veterinarian only after the dog has been
cooled down.
Prepared by Jason Nicol. For more information contact Dr. WilliamFortney
at
785-532-4135.
=========================================================
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