Continued
Heat stroke
After having dealt so copiously with emergencies associated with poisonings, we may now return to other life-threatening circumstances.
Let’s face it, we live close the equator, and it seems that the daily temperatures are rising. In addition, humidity levels are usually very high. Also, for whatever reason, many people are neglectful of their pets. All these factors combine to possibly create heat stress which could ultimately lead to death.
I once had a case of a monkey with heat stroke. After cleansing the monkey’s cage, the owner placed it with the monkey inside next to a metal wall and left the house to conduct some other necessary chores. By mid-morning, the full force of the sun hit the cage and monkey, and the heat reflection from the metal wall exacerbated the stress.
There was no air circulation. The monkey was in a sauna-like environment. After hours of enduring the heat, the animal collapsed. The owner found the monkey almost in a coma. The neighbours heard the animal chattering in panic, but could not enter the yard because of the vicious dogs guarding the premises. Perhaps they should have called the GSPCA (226-4237) or 911. This particular story had a happy end, since with a lot of cold packs and other supportive therapy we were slowly able to bring ‘Jacko’ back to his normal noisy self.
On another occasion, an anaconda was presented in the clinic after having been locked up in a car.
This was the owner’s (a foreigner) solution to prevent his car from being tampered with/stolen. For reptiles, confined in a continuously hot environment, it is worse, because they do not have built-in temperature regulators in the brain, like us mammals.
Instead, they take on the temperature of the surrounding environment. So you can imagine the problem the ‘guard’ snake had. It was a wonder the reptile didn’t ‘explode.’ It did not survive.
Of all pets (the usual ones), dogs are very susceptible to high temperatures. As you know, dogs do not have sweat glands on the skin, (except for a few rudimentary ones between the toes), so transpiration of heat does not take place via the skin through perspiration. Heat release occurs mostly through the mouth (panting). That’s why we should not keep muzzles on a dog’s mouth for too long. Dogs rely on rapid breathing to exchange warm air for cool air.
So you can understand that in the tropics, especially five degrees from the equator and below sea level (with humidity levels in the nineties), dogs – especially the long-haired varieties can really suffer from heat stress.
Long haired breeds are obviously very vulnerable. When the temperature of the air surrounding the dog’s body is high, cooling by rapid breathing is really not a very efficient process. Also, you would appreciate that flat-nosed breeds like the Pekinese have a real double-whammy problem (long hair and anatomically compromised nostrils).
Within the very context described in the previous paragraph, I must relate an incident which was quite unique, bizarre actually, but which could occur again. A client had tied the dog’s mouth, during its bath. The muzzle was kept on while the owner used the hot air blower to dry the dog’s skin. She wondered why the dog was so agitated, but she continued the hair drying exercise – until the dog collapsed.
I should also mention that if a dog is suffering from a respiratory tract infection which further compromises its breathing, then we must ensure that such an animal must never be placed in conditions where he can more easily overheat.
Perhaps the circumstance most likely to result in heat stroke is the one associated with the locking up of a dog/cat/snake, etc, in a vehicle with the windows wound up. Earlier this year a very close friend of mine was taking his dog from Tobago to Trinidad on the ferry with his car. He felt that the dog would easily be able to withstand the isolation in the car during the 3-hour sea-crossing, especially since the windows were slightly ajar.
Well the dog did not die of suffocation. However, the heat generated in the hold of the ship was enough to precipitate a massive heat stroke. My friend has not yet recovered from this disaster – for which he holds himself totally responsible.
The moral of these stores is simple: Do not place your pets in situations/conditions which could prove to be deleterious to their breathing and general well-being.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you do not wish your pet to have puppies or kittens, you may exploit the GSPCA’s free spay and neutering programme. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
