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- Low Body Temperature in Dogs
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- Heat-seeking/burrowing in blankets
- Shivering
- Weakness
- Mental depression
- Shallow breathing
- Stiff movement
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Lethargy
- Labored breathing
- Slow, weak heartbeat
- Fixed and dilated pupils
- Unconsciousness or coma
- Death
- Primary hypothermia: The body exhibits normal heat production. Low body temperature results from exposure to low environmental temperatures.
- Secondary hypothermia: The body exhibits abnormal heat production as a result of injury, illness, or drugs.
- Mild: Body temperature of 90 - 99°F (32 - 35°C)
- Moderate: Body temperature of 82 - 90°F (28 - 32°C)
- Severe: Body temperature less than 82°F (28°C)
- Exposure to external cold, wet and/or extreme drafts can result in heat loss.
- Smaller animals have high surface-area-to-body-mass ratios and are more susceptible.
- Injury can prevent seeking heat and/or thermoregulation
- Certain drugs such as those used for anesthesia in surgery can inhibit the body’s ability to regulate temperature.
- Newborn pups are more susceptible to hypothermia even at normal room temperatures.
- Geriatric pets can be more susceptible to hypothermia.
- Hypothalamic disease affects the brain’s regulation of body temperature and can contribute to heat loss.
- Hypothyroidism, low thyroid hormone production, can contribute to heat loss.
- Passive External Rewarming
- In mild hypothermia, the animal’s own metabolism continues to produce heat. Blankets or other insulating covers will aid in preventing further heat loss. Natural body functions such as shivering will also contribute to rewarming.
- Active External Rewarming
- Moderate cases of hypothermia require the use of external heat sources such as hot water bottles, heating pads and radiant heaters.
- Active Internal Rewarming
- Severe cases of hypothermia require the use of invasive warming. Administration of warm intravenous (IV) fluids can aid in bringing body temperatures back to normal levels. Oxygen administration may also be used to promote recovery.
- Treatment risks:
- Rewarming must be conducted carefully and body temperature monitored constantly to avoid complications.
- After drop is a phenomenon seen as the body temperature continues to decrease during rewarming. Rewarmed blood moves to the extremities, pushing cold blood from the extremities inward to core organs.
- Rewarming shock can result from rapid rewarming causing a sudden drop in blood pressure. Combined with low cardiac output, this can potentially further compromise the circulatory system.
Rewarming therapy should continue until normal body temperature is reached (usually 2-10 hours, depending on severity). The patient may then continue to be monitored for 24-72 hours, depending on severity.
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