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Something Serious -Summer Heat |
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Written by Rascal
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Friday, 04 July 2008 03:47 |
So it's summer time and as you all know that means hot weather. Did you know that dogs have heat strokes too and also an illness that is called bloating also known as Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus? You may be wondering what Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus is.
Well... due to a number of different and sometimes unknown reasons, the stomach fills up with air and puts pressure on the other organs and diaphragm. This makes it difficult for the dog to breathe, and compresses large veins in the abdomen, thus preventing blood from returning to the heart. Filled with air, the stomach can easily rotate on itself, thus pinching off the blood supply.
Once this rotation (volvulus) occurs and the blood supply is cut off, the stomach begins to die and the entire blood supply is disrupted and the animal's condition begins to deteriorate very rapidly. Do Not fear there are ways to help prevent this deadly illness from happening! Try to feed 2 or 3 smaller meals daily (as opposed to 1 large meal). Any changes in the diet should be made gradually, over a period of a week. Any vigorous exercise, excitement and stress should be avoided from 1 hour before to 2 hours after meals.
Excessive drinking should also be avoided. Avoid feeding food that are known to cause flatulence (gas), e.g. soy, beans, peas, onions, beet pulp, etc. Some veterinarians advocate the feeding of large pieces of fresh/raw fruits and vegetables (e.g. apples, oranges, carrots) 3 to 4 times a week for extra roughage. Also Over-the-counter anti-flatulent (Gas X®) should be given just before or dogs go through stressful situations. It may also be handy when the dog appears to have a lot of gas.
The anti-flatulent works by breaking down the surface tensions of the small air bubbles in the stomach, thus causing bigger bubbles to form, which theoretically, are easier for the stomach to pass. Oh and I don't want to forget if you think your dog may have bloat here are some symptoms:
• Attempts to vomit (usually unsuccessful); may occur every 5-20 minutes
(One of the most common symptoms)
• Doesn't act like usual self
(Perhaps the earliest warning sign & may be the only sign that almost always occurs)
• Significant anxiety and restlessness
(One of the earliest warning signs and seems fairly typical)
• " Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance
(This seems to occur fairly frequently)
• Bloated abdomen that may feel tight (like a drum)
(Despite the term "bloat," many times this symptom never occurs or is not apparent)
• Pale or off-color gums
(Dark red in early stages, white or blue in later stages)
Lack of normal gurgling and digestive sounds in the tummy
(Many dog owners report this after putting their ear to their dog's tummy)
Other signs:
Gagging, Heavy salivating or drooling, Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous, Whining, Pacing, Licking the air, Seeking a hiding place ,Looking at their side or other evidence of abdominal pain or discomfort, May refuse to lie down ,May attempt to eat small stones and twigs ,Drinking excessively ,Heavy or rapid panting ,Shallow breathing ,Cold mouth membranes ,Apparent weakness; unable to stand or has a spread-legged stance (Especially in advanced stage) ,Accelerated heartbeat (Heart rate increases as bloating progresses), Weak pulse, Collapse
You may also be interested if your dog gets a heat stroke what you should do so let me help you out with that.
This is a life threatening situation and needs immediate veterinarian attention. There are a few things you can do if your vet has to call you back or on the way to the veterinarian's office or emergency room:
1) Immediately move the dog to a cooler area. Place the dog in a shady area or put a large umbrella over him/her.
2) Offer the pup small amounts of water (too much water may cause the dog to vomit and add to your pet’s dehydration).
3) If the dog will not drink of his/her own accord, then wipe the mouth area with a clean, wet cloth.
4) Sponge down the whole body, including tummy and groin area with COOL, not cold water. Cold water will cause blood vessels to constrict and will stop the heat from escaping. This could send your dog into shock from the sudden drop in body temperature. NEVER throw buckets of water over the dog, or throw him/her into cold water, as these actions will almost certainly put the dog into shock, making the situation far worse than it already is!
5) If you do not have an electric fan, improvise one with a towel or something that will cause a draft around the wet dog; however, do not do anything that might panic him/her unnecessarily. Fanning the dog will help to cool him/her through the process of evaporation. If the dog has collapsed, continue with the above steps until professional help arrives. Be prepared to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should it become necessary. The dog needs electrolyte replacement and oral replacement is not sufficient. The electrolytes need to be replaced through intravenous (IV) administration.
You may also be intertested in the symptoms of this heat related illness and so I guess I can spare a few more moments before I go off to bother Stephanie and Kelly while their grooming.
*A rapid or erratic heartbeat/pulse
*Rapid breathing, or struggling for breath
*Exaggerated panting, or the sudden stopping of panting
*Increased, excessive, loud, heaving, irregular panting or the sudden stopping of panting
*A very high body temperature - usually, cell damage begins to occur at body temperatures over 106 degrees
*Excessive drooling, or frothing at the mouth
*Dark red gums*Vomiting*Barking or whining *Anxiety or agitation *Dizziness*Confusion
*Incoordination - stumbling and/or trouble standing or walking
*An anxious, vacant, or staring expression*Listlessness or weakness*Shaking or seizures
*Collapse or unconsciousness
Other signs of heat stroke can include some or all of the following:
*Dry mouth and nose
*Lack of urine production
*Weakness and muscle tremors
*Dryness and redness (or dull grayish-pink or blue) of the inside of the tongue, mouth, lips and gums and gums - OR -
*Drooling and excess salivation
*Glazed eyes and/or dilated pupils
*Difficulty standing or walking
*Vomiting and/or diarrhea
I hope all this information will help you out so you have fun and safe summer!  |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 04 July 2008 03:54 )
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