As far as starting treatment in the field,
the biggest thing is to get them cooled down. If there is water
around get them a cool water bath or spray them down. If you
are going to cool them in standing water be sure to wade in with
them and hold on to them, as they could collapse and drown or
get out too deep and not be able to make it back. Apply ice to
the hairless portion of the belly and especially deep in the
armpits and groin, as there are some very large blood vessels
in these areas that help cool them down fast. You can also get
them in the vehicle with the A/C on high with the fans blowing
directly on the dog.
The whole while during the cooling process you need to be monitoring
the dog's temp and stop cooling them when the temperature reaches
103 F. This will also allow you to make sure you are not cooling
them too fast. It is very easy to over-cool these dogs and drop
them down too low and end up causing hypothermia remember the
internal thermostat is no longer working correctly.
If it appears that your dog got more than just got a little warm,
you need to get him to a vet. Continue attempting to cool him
down while transporting them to a vet, though. Hospitalization,
monitoring and supportive care are very important in order to
save these dogs. Many of the dogs that survive may have long-standing
problems, and the sooner you seek veterinary care the better.
Another problem that can contribute to heat stroke and may cause
death all on its own is hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. It is
also termed exertional hypoglycemia, |
hunting dog hypoglycemia, or sugar fits. We see this
condition when the blood glucose levels fall below 50.
The cause of hypoglycemia is similar to heat stroke: a lack of
conditioning. Hypoglycemia occurs when your dog does too much
work too soon, and it occurs early in training and often with
over-anxious young dogs. Many of the dogs we worry about are
those dogs that are constantly trying to go. They're wild in
the box, excited before they're released, and some of them have
gone through an entire workout without ever getting off the
truck.
Some of the signs you may see with this problem are an altered
mentation where the dog just doesn't seem to be acting right
and is confused and almost dazed. There can be trembling or shaking
as well. Many of these dogs will have a nervousness and anxiety
about them and most dogs will exhibit weak
|
ness and ataxia or stumbling, as they can no longer
walk normally. In severe cases it can lead to collapse, seizures,
coma and death.
Treatment consists of getting simple sugars into the dog. Oral
simple sugars are absorbed from the gums and thus do not need
to be forced down the dog. I recommend carrying a bottle of 50%
Dextrose or Karo Syrup in the first aid kit. You can draw up
a syringe of the dextrose and administer is slowly until the
problem resolves. If using syrup you can just take some and rub
it on the gums until the dog responds If you do not have these
items you can also use honey or REAL fruit juice the key being
real fruit juice as too many juices contain artificial sweeteners
that will be of no value in treating the problem. In a pinch
items like Pepsi or Gatorade could be used. Just be sure to take
it slow and rub them on the gums as many of these dogs may not
be able to swallow, and you don't want to pour pop down the wrong
pipe. If the dog recovers uneventfully, I wouldn't send them
back out to perform. I'm big on running bloodwork with any type
of collapse, and although likely everything will be normal at
the time of the work-up, it will allow you to rule-out other
possible causes of collapse.
Many of the emergencies we see in hunting dogs can often be prevented
with preseason conditioning, nutrition and getting to know your
dog. With a little education on what to do when an emergency
occurs you can also prevent these problems that crop up from
being a season ending, or worse yet, life ending condition.
Dr Joe Spoo is a Vet from Sioux Falls, SD
|
