I'm...Too...Hot!!!

Did you know?
Our cool weather for the month of June has given us quite a reprieve from the heat this spring, but as the temperature climbs with the official start of summer remember that you aren't the only one who needs to find ways to keep cool. Overheating in animals is a serious problem and can happen much sooner for dogs and cats than in people. Unlike humans, dogs and cats don't sweat beads of perspiration. Our furry friends use panting to cool off. Cats may also lick their fur for the evaporative effect to try to cool down. If they can't cool down their temperature will start to climb and can lead to hyperthermia or heat stroke. Heat stroke can happen in a short amount of time and can cause dire consequences.

Let me tell you why!!
A long run, being outside in direct sun without water, or being confined in a hot unventilated area can drastically increase an animal's body temperature. Be especially cautious about leaving your dog, or cat, in the car while you run into a restaurant or store. Invariably that 1-2 minute errand turns into 10-20 minutes. According to The Weather Channel your car acts like an oven when the sun is shining on it. And keep this in mind: if the outside temperature on a warm, sunny day is 90 degrees the temperature inside a car left in the sun in 10 minutes will climb to 113 degrees, in 20 minutes it will be 120 degrees, and in 30 minutes will be 133 degrees! Normal body temperature for dogs and cats is between 99 and 102.5 degrees F. If their body temperature rises above 103 - 104 they start to get in trouble.

We tend to see dogs in the ER for overheating and heat stroke more so than cats because of the tendency to over exercise or confine dogs vs. cats. Animals more prone to heat stroke include those with a heart condition, animals that are overweight, dogs or cats that have a thick coat, or breeds with short faces, also known as brachycephalic (e.g. Pug, Pomeranian, Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Persian, Exotic shorthair, Himalayan) . These animals all have a particularly difficult time keeping cool and need some extra consideration. For all animals remember to provide shade, plenty of water, and an opening into the house or other cool shelter to get out of the heat.

Rethink taking your dog for a run when you are mountain biking even if the temperature is 70 degrees. The dog will try hard to stay with you and the first sign of trouble you may see is when the dog collapses.

Besides collapse, other signs of heat stroke include heavy panting, excessive drooling, bright red gums, pacing, staggering, and weakness. Immediate veterinary care is vital to provide a chance for recovery. On your way to the vet place cold wet towels on your pets belly and apply rubbing alcohol or cold compresses to the pads of their feet to help lower their temperature.

Treatment for heat stroke is intensive and the majority of cases we see the outcome is not good, mainly because of complicating factors or waiting too long before seeking medical attention. Time really is of the essence.

Moral of the story...when it comes to heat stroke, prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The Ants Go Marching One by One

Did you know?
Summer is synonymous with ants. Though none of us like to admit it, I'm sure we've all had trouble with ants at some time. They seem to appear out of nowhere, marching to and fro in a long black line having found some tasty food source in the pantry or on the kitchen counter. One of the methods used to stem the ant take over are the little traps. The ant crawls in, takes some of the bait, crawls out and takes it back to the nest to die. But, what if your pet finds the trap and chews it up. Is it dangerous? Maybe, but not for the reason you might think.

Let me tell you why!
There are a variety of ant traps on the market. Most contain a small percentage of a substance poisonous for the ants, and a large percentage of a sugary or greasy substance to attract the ants to eat the poison. For instance, the packaging on Raid Ant Baits lists n-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide .5% and 99.5% inert ingredients. The .5% is so small that there is no danger to your animal if ingested.

Other traps contain a chemical commonly used to kill fleas and if ingested is just as benign. The inert ingredient for the Raid trap happens to be peanut butter. So of course, your dog smells a treat and tries to chew it up to get to the peanut butter!

So if an ant trap is ingested, the main concern is the potential for obstruction if the object or container becomes lodged in the stomach or intestines. If your dog chewed up one of the plastic traps and consumed some of the sharp pieces we recommend you feed several small pieces of bread or other type of fiber that can help the pieces pass through the animal without harm. Keep an eye on him/her to make sure eating, drinking, and defecation all continue as normal. Also, you can expect some vomiting and maybe even a little diarrhea from eating a non-food item. If the vomiting or diarrhea becomes persistent and your dog's attitude or behavior changes, get in to see the vet right away.

The moral of the story...don't let those ants march all over you.

The Case of the Swollen Face

Did you know?
We had the cutest little miniature pinscher come into our hospital tonight with a swollen face. Poor thing was miserable and tried to hide his head as I brought him back to the Critical Care Unit of our hospital. Since there was no visible wound the first suspicion for this type of symptom was some sort of allergic reaction.

Let me tell you why!
Cats and dogs are a lot like us humans when it comes to stinging insects, spider bites and pesky bugs. Some animals get bitten and a quick shake of the head is all they need before they are back to the adventure that got interrupted. Other animals, like their human companions, have a much more drastic response and will break out into hives, have parts of their body swell up, or get a nasty localized itchiness or painful bite site. Cats tend to respond with less swelling and more vomiting or gastro-intestinal upset.

Allergic reactions can range from being mildly annoying to life threatening. Mildly annoying might include hives, some minor facial swelling or swelling around the bite area. Facial swelling from an allergic reaction is often associated with insect stings and usually occurs during warm weather. The swelling is often around the mouth, eyes or ears and generally is non-painful. It's good to remove the stinger if one can be found. A life threatening reaction could occur if the stinging insect was swallowed and stung on the inside of the mouth or throat causing swelling in the air passage that blocks off airflow and constricts the ability to breath.

Treatment for allergic reactions usually involves an antihistamine and a shot of steroids to decrease the swelling and itching. If the animal is scratching or biting at the affected area an Elizabethan collar might be recommended to keep the scratching paws away. Our veterinarians recommend a quick response for treatment to minimize the possibility of the life threatening situations and to decrease the overall discomfort for the animal. Some internet sites suggest treating allergic reactions with Benadryl at home. To be safe, it is best to have a veterinarian examine the animal to ensure that the problem is truly an allergic reaction and to recommend the proper dosage.

The moral of the story...tiny bites can cause big reactions.

Coming to an ER Near You

Did you know?
I thought I'd continue in a similar vein as last week in the Emergency Preparedness post, but this time move to thinking about having to bring your pet to the emergency room for care. I know, none of us want to think about the possibility of our beloved four legged animal having to make a trip to the ER. However, if you have thought about it and considered some steps you might need to take before heading our way the trip may be more beneficial to you and your best furry friend. A recent AAHA article was forwarded to me by our Hospital Administrator and while it was a good article there were a few other items that our vets and techs mentioned that are great pieces of information to pass on to animal owners everywhere.

Let me tell you why.
Often, in the haste to bring an animal in for care, owners can forget to bring some vital pieces of information that would be helpful to the treating veterinarian in determining the best way to care for the animal.

Here is a list of items and info:

• Bring any medication currently prescribed for the animal in their proper vials with the prescription label so we know type, quantity, and frequency of administration.


• If the animal has ingested something bring the packaging (e.g. Decon, chocolate, gum) or a sample (e.g. piece of the plant).


• Bring vaccination records for puppies and kitties - especially if they were within the last few days.


• Bring any blood work results and/or x-rays from a recent visit to your family vet.


• This is kind of a gross one, but a fresh fecal sample can be helpful for a dog with diarrhea. I know the smell isn't pleasant, but we are used to it.


• Know the name of your family veterinarian and the name of the hospital where you take your pet for routine care. We like to send a letter to let them know we treated your animal. Grab their magnet from the fridge if you have one.


• Small animals are best transported in a carrier. They are less likely to try to escape your arms and injure you or themselves. Especially if you are the only one in the car and trying to drive.


• Wrap small animals in a blanket if you don't have a carrier.


• Animals that can walk, but are too large for a carrier, need to be on a leash. We want to prevent animals from getting too friendly in the lobby and causing a problem.


• For large dogs that are injured we can come out to your car and help put the animal on a gurney to transport inside.


• Remember that any animal that is injured may behave differently than normal and if in pain may try to bite or scratch. Keep your hands and face away from the head of the inured animal. Let them show you what is comfortable.

Hopefully these tips will make your trip to the ER a little less painful.

The moral of the story...help us help you.