Heat Stroke and Dehydration in Our Furry Friends

Information from www.pets.webmd.com 

~With any sign of heat stroke or dehydration get your dog to a veterinarian ASAP to be evaluated.~

With the hot temperatures outside our furry friends can get overheated easily.  Remember that any animal can be prone to heat stroke and dehydration but I am going to address dogs since that is the most common cases that are seen.  Dogs do not have the same cooling systems as humans.  Because dogs do not sweat like humans do their only method of cooling themselves is through panting and minor sweating through the pads of their feet neither of which is very effective in these hot temperatures.

Common situations that can set the stage for heat stroke in dogs include:

• Being left in a car in hot weather
• Exercising strenuously in hot, humid weather
• Being a brachycephalic breed, especially a Bulldog, Pug, Boston Terrier, or Pekingese 
  
  
  
   
   
  

• Suffering from a heart or lung disease that interferes with efficient breathing
• Being muzzled while put under a hair dryer
• Suffering from a high fever or seizures
• Being confined on concrete or asphalt surfaces
• Being confined without shade and fresh cool water in hot weather
• Having a history of heat stroke

Heat stroke begins with heavy panting and difficulty breathing.  The tongue and mucous membranes appear bright red.  The saliva is thick and the dog often vomits.  The rectal temperature rises to 104° to 110°F.  The dog becomes progressively unsteady and passes bloody diarrhea.  As shock sets in, the lips and mucous membranes turn gray.  Collapse, seizures, coma, and death rapidly ensue.

 

Treatment: Emergency measures to cool the dog must begin at once.  Move the dog out of the source of heat, preferably into an air-conditioned building.  Take his rectal temperature every 10 minutes.  Mild cases may be resolved by moving the dog into a cool environment.

 

If the rectal temperature is above 104°F, begin rapid cooling by spraying the dog with a garden hose or immersing him in a tub of cool water (not ice water) for up to two minutes.  Alternatively, place the wet dog in front of an electric fan.  Cool packs applied to the groin area may be helpful, as well as wiping his paws off with cool water.  Monitor his rectal temperature and continue the cooling process until the rectal temperature falls below 103°F.  At this point, stop the cooling process and dry the dog.  Further cooling may induce hypothermia and shock.

 

Following an episode of heat stroke, take your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.  Heat stroke can be associated with laryngeal edema.  This seriously worsens the breathing problem and may require an emergency tracheostomy.
Other consequences of hyperthermia include kidney failure, spontaneous bleeding, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.  These complications can occur hours or days later or it is imperative that your dogs be checked by a veterinarian.

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when a dog loses body fluids faster than he can replace them.  Dehydration usually involves the loss of both water and electrolytes.  In dogs, the most common causes of dehydration are severe vomiting and diarrhea.  Dehydration can also be caused by inadequate fluid intake, often associated with fever and severe illness.  A rapid loss of fluids also occurs with heat stroke.
A prominent sign of dehydration is loss of skin elasticity.  When the skin along the back is pulled up, it should spring back into place.  In a dehydrated animal, the skin stays up in a ridge. 

 

Another sign of dehydration is dryness of the mouth.  The gums, which should be wet and glistening, become dry and tacky.  The saliva is thick and tenacious.  In an advanced case, the eyes are sunken and the dog exhibits signs of shock, including collapse.
Treatment: A dog who is visibly dehydrated should receive immediate veterinary attention, including intravenous fluids, to replace fluids and prevent further loss.
For mild dehydration, if the dog is not vomiting you can give him an electrolyte solution by bottle or syringe into the cheek pouch.  Balanced electrolyte solutions for treating dehydration in children, such as Ringer’s lactate with 5 percent dextrose in water or Pedialyte solution, are available at drugstores and are also suitable for dogs.  Gatorade is another short-term substitute to help replace fluids.  Administer the solution at a rate of 2 to 4 ml per pound (1 to 2 ml per kilo) of body weight per hour, depending on the severity of the dehydration (or as directed by your veterinarian).

So You Want to Breed Your Dog?

By Rebekah Wright

The decision to breed your dog is not one to take lightly as there are many considerations. Your dog will need to get the proper health checks depending on their breed. Dogs usually require; CERF certification (Canine Eye Registration Foundation), OFA testing, Brucellosis (See Below) testing. Your dog needs to be in excellent health, fed a high quality diet (something that you cannot buy in a human grocery type store), and at least 2 years of age. People who breed before 2 years of age are doing a real disservice to their dog that has not stopped growing.

Once the mating is over with the costs continue to rise. Your Dam must be vet checked a few days before the puppies are born which will include radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound to get an idea of the number of puppies. Supplies for the whelping (puppies being born) including; whelping box, thermometer, hemostats, clean towels and washcloths, puppy pads, ounce scale, something to be able to ID the puppies with (we use nail polish on one toe), and a heating pad. You will go through a lot of puppy pads while the puppies are being born and on a daily basis until they leave your home. Puppies are very messy.

Once the puppies are born the costs will rise once again. Your Dam’s eating habits which have probably already doubled since getting pregnant will now double to triple again. She is now nursing puppies which take a tremendous amount of energy from the Dam. Puppies will need to see the vet in 3 days to be checked out and have their dew claws removed. If something were to happen to mom, guess what? You are now responsible for buying expensive formula, mixing it, and feeding puppies every two hours 24 hours a day. I’ve done this and it is hard work never getting no more than 2 hours of sleep. But you brought them into this world; you have to keep them alive and well. Once puppies are weaned you now have to buy food for them also and once again make it up and feed them throughout the day. At 7-8 weeks of age puppies and mom have to go back to the vet for a vet check, deworming, and first set of vaccines. If any of the puppies are flying to their new destination you also have to get a health certificate.So now your puppies are leaving your home to go to their forever homes. It is your responsibility to interview a potential home. I NEVER want to see a puppy I bring into this world end up in a shelter or rescue. So it is important to make sure people know what they are getting themselves into, the time and expense involved.  It's not easy raising a dog and very expensive.  Once these puppies go to their new home you now are connected to them for life. Any reputable breeder will take back their puppies if the home doesn’t work out. My contract states that owners are never allowed to rehome the puppy but that it must always come back to me. Once again, I am responsible for their life and if they end up in an inappropriate home????
The decision to breed your dog is not one to take lightly. As you can see there are a lot of considerations. You won’t make money breeding, if you do it the right and ethical way.  

 














 Now, after considering all of this, if you are still interested in breeding your dog I’m there for you. I offer Sire or Dam Finding Assistance, Breeding Assistance, Whelping Assistance, and Document Writing Assistance.  To find out more about my services please visit: Highland Springs Pet Services Breeding Assistance page and scroll about half way down.  Give me a call and we can discuss the details. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
* Disclaimers: I am not a vet nor do I claim to be but I do have experience in this area. I will not give medical diagnosis or prognosis and will always recommend a visit to your vet.  For document assistance I am not a lawyer. I have written documents for my own business and I have spoken with and gotten advice from fellow pet business owners and breeders. 
 

What is Brucellosis?

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1556&aid=404

Brucellosis is a disease caused by Brucella canis, which is a bacteria that can infect bitches and their fetuses. It seems that over the years much has been written on brucellosis in breeding dogs, but despite it all, infection rates may run as high as 8-10%. That is right, it is suspected that one in ten dogs in this country may carry Brucella canis.
Medical advancements in controlling this disease have been few and far between. Contrary to some opinions, it is a very difficult disorder to treat, and in most cases, treatment is unsuccessful. A prevalent attitude among many people is that "if my dogs get it, then I will treat it." This is a serious mistake because you probably will not cure it, and if you do, the individual will probably be sterile or be a poor breeding specimen.
Transmission of Brucella canis
B. canis is sexually transmitted by the mating of infected males and females. Brucella canis in the female dog will live in the vaginal and uterine tissue and secretions for years, and except in rare cases, for life. The infected female usually appears healthy with no signs of disease or indication that she is a 'carrier' or harborer of the organisms. She can spread the bacteria to other animals through her urine, aborted fetuses, or most commonly through the act of breeding. Once pregnant, the bacteria will also infect the developing fetuses causing illness.
In males, the Brucella bacteria live in the testicles and seminal fluids. An infected male is just as dangerous as the female as he can spread the Brucella bacteria via his urine or semen. Oftentimes, there are no signs except in advanced cases when the testicles may be uneven in size.
Litters are commonly aborted, usually in the last two weeks of gestation, or the puppies may die shortly after birth. If a pregnant dog aborts after 45 days of gestation, you should be highly suspicious of brucellosis. Usually, the fetuses are partially decayed and accompanied by a gray to green vaginal discharge. This discharge can have very high numbers of Brucella canis. If embryos die early, they may be reabsorbed and the female may never appear to be pregnant at all.
Click on the link above for more information including:

• What are the risks?
  
• Testing
  
• Prevention
  
• Treatment
  
• Human health hazards

The Sad Truth About PETA

The following link goes into detail the number of animals brought into their "rescue" and the number that actually leave there alive.  PETA Kills Animals

________________________________________________________________________________
The following story is from This is True dated 17 July 2005. It is Copyright 2005 Randy Cassingham, all rights reserved, and reprinted here with permission:

"Ethical" Defined
After more than 100 dead dogs were dumped in a trash dumpster over four weeks, police in Ahoskie, N.C., kept an eye on the trash receptacle behind a supermarket. Sure enough, a van drove up and officers watched the occupants throw in heavy plastic bags. They detained the two people in the van and found 18 dead dogs in plastic bags in the dumpster, including puppies; 13 more dead dogs were still in the van. Police say the van is registered to the headquarters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and the two occupants, Andrew B. Cook, 24, and Adria Joy Hinkle, 27, identified themselves as PETA employees. An autopsy performed on one of the dogs found it was healthy before it was killed. Police say PETA has been picking up the animals -- alive -- from North Carolina animal shelters, promising to find them good homes. Cook and Hinkle have been charged with 62 felony counts of animal cruelty. In response to the arrests PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said it's against the group's policy for employees to dump animals in the trash, but "that for some animals in North Carolina, there is no kinder option than euthanasia." (Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald) ...Oops, my mistake: that's "Playing God" Defined.
In his author's notes section, Cassingham had more to say about this story:

The more I learn about PETA, the less I think of them. The story of them killing animals isn't even unusual. According to PETA's own filings, in 2004 PETA killed 86.3 percent of the animals entrusted to its care -- a number that's rising, not falling. Meanwhile, the SPCA in PETA's home town (Norfolk, Va.) was able to find loving homes for 73 percent of the animals put in its care. A shortage of funds? Nope: last year PETA took in $29 million in tax-exempt donations. It simply has other priorities for the funds, like funding terrorism (yes, really). But don't take my word for it: I got my figures from http://www.petakillsanimals.com/ -- and they have copies of PETA's state and federal filings to back it up. The bottom line: if you donate money to PETA because you think they care for and about animals, you need to think some more. PETA literally yells and screams about how others "kill animals" but this is how they operate? Pathetic.

And you know what I wonder? PETA's official count of animals they kill is 86.3 percent. But if they're going around picking up animals, killing them while they drive around and not even giving them a chance to be adopted, and then destroying the evidence by dumping the bodies in the trash, are those deaths being reported? My guess: no. While 86.3 percent is awful, the actual number is probably much, much higher. How dare they lecture anyone about the "ethical" treatment of animals!
(This is True is a weekly column featuring weird-but-true news stories from around the world, and has been published since 1994. Click the link for info about free subscriptions.)