Heat exhaustion easier to avoid than to treat
By Janet Simons
Source: Rocky Mountain News
Actress Melanie Griffith walked into the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado in Englewood on July 16 behind a gurney bearing a large, very sick-looking white sheepdog. She'd rushed the dog, Joe, down from Aspen after he had collapsed from heat exhaustion.
"It's a good thing Antonio Banderas (actress Griffith's husband) didn't bring in the dog, or I would have fainted," said the vet tech at the reception desk.
I happened to be there with my two dogs when Griffith walked in.
It never gets over 100 degrees in Aspen, but temperatures don't have to reach three digits for dogs to suffer from heat exhaustion. When they do, the problem worsens.
Janna Poll, hospital administrator for VRCC, said the number of heat-exhaustion cases goes up whenever there's a heat wave.
"We only get the animals that are in real trouble - the ones that are in danger of multiple organ failure," Poll said. "But throughout Denver, regular family veterinarians are seeing many, many less serious cases."
Debbie VanPelt, veterinarian in emergency and critical care at VRCC, said overheating causes the largest share of emergency visits by travelers.
"Heat exhaustion is a lot easier to avoid than to cure," VanPelt said.
To avoid heat exhaustion in your dog:
* Never leave a dog unattended in a car during summer weather.
* When traveling with pets in extremely hot weather, make sure the air conditioning functions properly and that the dog has ready access to water.
* Don't exercise your dog in hot weather.
VanPelt noted that most owners whose dogs go all the way into serious heat stroke don't have the funds for intensive veterinary care, and the dogs die. Treatment includes blood transfusions and constant monitoring of organ function.
Dogs can be brought back from less serious heat exhaustion, however.
Signs of heat exhaustion include lethargy, heavy panting, stopping, sitting down and refusing to move, and a drooping head.
If you suspect heat exhaustion, stop and find shade for your dog and offer water immediately. Then call your veterinarian and plan to take the dog in for care. First-aid measures include soaking the dog with cool water (not cold water or ice).
(C) 2005 Rocky Mountain News. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
DON'T FORGET YOUR KITTY
By Janet Simons
Source: Rocky Mountain News
Actress Melanie Griffith walked into the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado in Englewood on July 16 behind a gurney bearing a large, very sick-looking white sheepdog. She'd rushed the dog, Joe, down from Aspen after he had collapsed from heat exhaustion.
"It's a good thing Antonio Banderas (actress Griffith's husband) didn't bring in the dog, or I would have fainted," said the vet tech at the reception desk.
I happened to be there with my two dogs when Griffith walked in.
It never gets over 100 degrees in Aspen, but temperatures don't have to reach three digits for dogs to suffer from heat exhaustion. When they do, the problem worsens.
Janna Poll, hospital administrator for VRCC, said the number of heat-exhaustion cases goes up whenever there's a heat wave.
"We only get the animals that are in real trouble - the ones that are in danger of multiple organ failure," Poll said. "But throughout Denver, regular family veterinarians are seeing many, many less serious cases."
Debbie VanPelt, veterinarian in emergency and critical care at VRCC, said overheating causes the largest share of emergency visits by travelers.
"Heat exhaustion is a lot easier to avoid than to cure," VanPelt said.
To avoid heat exhaustion in your dog:
* Never leave a dog unattended in a car during summer weather.
* When traveling with pets in extremely hot weather, make sure the air conditioning functions properly and that the dog has ready access to water.
* Don't exercise your dog in hot weather.
VanPelt noted that most owners whose dogs go all the way into serious heat stroke don't have the funds for intensive veterinary care, and the dogs die. Treatment includes blood transfusions and constant monitoring of organ function.
Dogs can be brought back from less serious heat exhaustion, however.
Signs of heat exhaustion include lethargy, heavy panting, stopping, sitting down and refusing to move, and a drooping head.
If you suspect heat exhaustion, stop and find shade for your dog and offer water immediately. Then call your veterinarian and plan to take the dog in for care. First-aid measures include soaking the dog with cool water (not cold water or ice).
(C) 2005 Rocky Mountain News. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
DON'T FORGET YOUR KITTY
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