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Canine
Hypothermia
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Hypothermia is a
medical term used to describe a body temperature that is below normal
which in dogs is 100.5 - 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Dogs that
spend time outside, older dogs, young puppies and animals with short
coats such as whippets, greyhounds and other dogs with low body fat or
thin coats are high risk. Outdoor animals need at least 25% more
food during the winter months than during warmer months. The increase
in food is necessary to generate enough heat for the body to stay warm.
Indoor animals often require less food since exercise is generally
limited. Never leave a pet in the car: just a few minutes can
lead to hypothermia.
Signs of
hypothermia range from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the
low body temperature. These include depression, lethargy,
weakness, shivering, muscle stiffness, low
heart and respiratory rates, stupor, difficulty breathing, and Fixed,
dilated pupils and Coma. Cold dogs shiver but as their core
temperature drops they may stop shivering and become withdrawn and
reluctant to move. The most common cause of hypothermia is
prolonged exposure to cold environmental temperatures and when a dog is
wet. Hypothermia also occurs in shock, after a long anesthetic and in
newborn pups. Prolonged chilling burns up the available energy and
predisposes the body to low blood sugar. Certain illnesses, such as
hypothyroidism, and impaired behavioral responses can also be a factor
in the body's inability to maintain adequate temperature. If left
untreated, affected animals may develop signs of frostbite or may even
die.
Dogs kept ouside
should have an insulated dog house that is protected from the wind. The
dog house should not be too large as it is the dogs own body heat that
he generates that will keep him warm and the entrance should face south
or southeast. A plastic flap should cover the opening, especially
during windy days. Straw, hay or blankets make excellent bedding
material.
What
to Do if Hypothermia is Suspected
Look at the colour of
the gums, they should be warm and pink. If they are cool, or
coloured blue or grey you should check the dogs temperature which
should be 100.5 - 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. It is
important to monitor the patient's temperature closely during the
treatment period. Deal with any
reduction in temperature promptly as hypothermia can kill.
For milder cases of hypothermia drying the dog, wrapping in a warm
blanket or coat and
moveing to a warm environment will help prevent further heat loss.
Blankets may be warmed by putting
them in a clothes dryer. Put a hot water bottle in the blankets
to add heat. If your dog is wet (having fallen into ice water),
give the animal a warm bath with the water maintained at 101 degrees to
103 degrees. Rub vigorously with towels to dry the skin. A sugary
snack should also be given (some honey or glucose
(four tablespoons of
sugar added to a pint of water). If the temperature
doesn't increase then active warming is needed. At this stage you
should contact your vet.
For moderate
hypothermia warm chilled dogs by applying external rewarming heat
sources such as heating pads to the axilla (armpit), chest and abdomen.
Be
cautious when
applying direct heat as dogs with hypothermia can develop burns through
enthusiastic warming by their worried, over zealous owners. Protective layers
should always exist between the external heat source
and the individual in order to prevent skin burns. The temperature of
the packs should be about that of a baby bottle (warm to the wrist:
105-108 degrees F). Continue to change the packs until the rectal
temperature reaches 100 degrees F. Warming with a hair dryer, hot
water bottles, warm fans or even electric blankets also work well. As
sensation returns it can be painful, and the dog
may attempt to bite at the skin.
Severe
hypothermia often needs to be treated aggressively. If the dog suffers
from a severe case of hypothermia, the vet will need to warm the body
via warm intravenous fluids and electrolyte support in addition to
oxygen supplementation. Electrocardiograms and repeat blood
pressure evaluations are important in monitoring these patients.
Seek Veterinary Advice
What
NOT to Do
Do not
allow the pet to chill if water was used to warm him.
Do not burn the
pet by using blankets, heating pads, water, etc., that are too hot and
may damage the skin.
Do not use
excess superficial heat. This may cause superficial blood vessels to
dilate, resulting in shock.
If the rectal
temperature of a dog or cat is below 100.5 degees, the animal is
suffering from hypothermia. The pet is usually lethargic and doesn't
have much of an appetite. The cause may be environmental or metabolic.
Regardless, it indicates that the pet is in need of veterinary
attention.
