Patient Name: Bella Beale

HEATSTROKE IN DOGS

NIKITA BEALE

MILLER-MOTTE, RALEIGH

Owner(s) Name: Nikita Beale

Date of Birth: 10/31/2010

Medical Record #: 195810

Physician: Dr. Lillian Figueroa

Campus: The C.O.V.E.- Chesapeake, Va.

Admit Date: 7/25/15

Discharge Date: 7/30/15

4yr, FS, Rottweiler

T: 103.2 P: 190: Panting

QAR, mm<2sec, tacky

Client Complaint: O reports that pet was off leash today and spotted dear in a field and took off running after them. O looked for pet for about an hour and when she found pet, she was under a tree laying on her side breathing heavily and unable to get up. When o took pets temperature it was 105.2. O states that she did cool down pet slowly with semi cool water and alcohol on feet and legs. O states that pet seemed very confused and did not follow simple commands. Pet seemed like she had to go out and when pet defecated and urinated both bodily functions looked like blood per o.

Differential diagnosis: Heatstroke/Heat exhaustion vs toxin vs bacterial infection

Treatment: Intravenous fluid therapy and monitoring for secondary complications such as kidney failure, development of neurologic symptoms, abnormal clotting, changes in blood pressure, and electrolytes abnormalities.

Diagnostics: CBC, complete chemistry profile, electrolytes, PCV, total protein, blood glucose, coagulation factors, blood smear and urinalysis.

Prognosis: Poor/Guarded

Diagnosis: Heat Stroke (Hyperthermia)

At home Care: Make sure Bella have access to fresh water, an air-conditioned environment and/or lots of shade. Limit outdoor activity especially running/walking to early morning or when the sun goes down to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Dietary adjustments are normally recommended to ensure that a dog with liver disease receives the caloric and nutrient intake necessary to support liver regeneration and to manage the effects of hepatic encephalopathy.

Medications:

Denamarin 425mg: Give one tablet one hour prior to meal twice a day for life.

For optimal absorption, tablets should be given on an empty stomach, at least one hour before feeding, as the presence of food decreases the absorption of S-Adenosylmethionine. For those owners who have difficulty administering tablets to their pets, Denamarin tablet(s) may be disguised in a small bite of food.

Food requirement:

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine: Hepatic dry or wet dog food: Follow feeding guidelines labelled on the side of the package.

Client Information:

As we head into the warmer spring and summer months, it is important to remember heat exhaustion is a relatively common occurrence. Every summer, dogs are presented to veterinarians for treatment of heatstroke. Some of these cases are mild, but unfortunately they can be severe and prove fatal despite aggressive treatment. As the summer heat and humidity begins, it is very important that we take our pets into consideration and modify their routines accordingly. Hyperthermia is the term used to describe an elevation in body temperature. This increase typically occurs as a response to a trigger, such as inflammation in the body or a hot environment. When a dog is exposed to high ambient temperatures, heat stroke or heat exhaustion can result. This is because dogs do not sweat through their skin like humans - they release heat primarily by panting and they sweat through the foot pads and nose. If a dog cannot effectively expel heat, the internal body temperature begins to rise. In the case of a heat stroke, panting is not enough to cool the body down. Once the dog’s temperature reaches 106°, damage to the body’s cellular system and organs may become irreversible. Heat stroke is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Once the signs of heat stroke are detected, there is precious little time before serious damage - or even death - can occur. In many cases, owners are not aware that their dogs are developing this condition until it is too late to reverse the damage. Unfortunately, every year thousands of dogs suffer from heat stroke and too many succumb to heat stroke when it could have been avoided. It is important to learn how to recognize the signs of heat stroke and prevent it from happening to your dog. As mentioned previously, immediate emergency medical treatment is necessary to prevent multisystem organ damage, and death. Early recognition of the common signs of heat stroke is critical to saving the dog’s life.

The initial symptoms of heat stroke in dogs are characterized by unanticipated restlessness. Signs of heat exhaustion include excessive or heavy panting, hyperventilation (deep breathing), increased salivation early and then eventual drying of the gums and mucous membranes as the heat prostration progresses, weakness, confusion or inattention, vomiting or diarrhea and sometimes bleeding. Among common behavioral changes are agitation, whining, barking and other signs of anxiety. As the condition progresses towards heat prostration, there may be obvious paleness or graying to the gums, more shallow respiratory efforts and eventually slowed or absent breathing efforts, vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody, and finally seizures or coma. In the end stages of heat stroke, a dog will become listless, dull, weak, and recumbent. It may try to move to cool places but be unable to rise, will have increased difficulty breathing, and ultimately will have seizures, collapse, lapse into a coma and die.

Any pet that cannot cool himself off is at risk for heatstroke. Following these guidelines can help prevent serious problems.

• Keep pets with predisposing conditions like heart disease, obesity, older age, or breathing problems cool and in the shade. Even normal activity for these pets can be harmful.
• Provide access to water at all times.
• Do not leave your pet in a hot parked car even if you’re in the shade or will only be gone a short time. The temperature inside a parked car can quickly reach up to140 degrees.
• Make sure outside dogs have access to shade.
• On a hot day, restrict exercise and don’t take your dog jogging with you. Too much exercise when the weather is very hot can be dangerous.
• Do not muzzle your dog.
• Avoid places like the beach and especially concrete or asphalt areas where heat is reflected and there is no access to shade.
• Wetting down your dog with cool water or allowing him to swim can help maintain a normal body temperature.
• Move your dog to a cool area of the house.

References

Animal Medical Center of Southern California. (2016) Prevention and Management of Heat Stroke in Dogs. Retrieved from

Veterinary Technician Emergency Medicine. (April 2007 (Vol 28, No 4) Focus: Summer Issues). Heatstroke in Dogs. Retrieved from

Emergency Medicine. (July 2013 (Vol 35, No 7)). Heatstroke: Thermoregulation, Pathophysiology, and Predisposing Factors. Retrieved from

Petwave Keeping Pets In Motion. (July 16, 2015) Treatment and Prognosis of Liver Disease in Dogs. Retrieved from