Pets and People: First Aid Advise During the Summer

The two most common questions I receive at the Manchester Animal Hospital during these summer months have to do with insect bites and heatstroke (hyperthermia).

Any insect or spider can cause problems if they bite or sting your canine companion.  A bite or sting can cause swelling, redness, and itching.  Some animals can have an allergic reaction to a sting or bite that may result in mild hives, facial swelling, vomiting, difficulty breathing or even collapse.

What to you should do:

If the stinger can be found, scrape it out with a credit card or other stiff material.  Alternatively, use tweezers by grasping the stinger, which is located below the venom sac.  Studies have shown that speed is of the essence in removing the stinger.  If the only way is to pinch it and remove it, then do so.  You'll do more good than harm and you'll get the stinger out faster.  Don't worry about squeezing more venom into the area—this has been disproven.     

Apply cool compresses to the area.  

To help neutralize some of the acidic venom, apply a paste mixture of baking soda and water to the sting area. 

Your pet should be examined immediately by a veterinarian if there is facial swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse.

In some situations, administering an over-the-counter antihistamine can help.  Again, check with your veterinarian for guidance.

What NOT to do:

Do not administer any medications without first contacting your veterinarian or a veterinary emergency hospital.  The veterinarian may need to examine your pet before recommending medications.

Hyperthermia may be a life-threatening condition and requires immediate treatment. Body temperature may be elevated because of an infection (fever), but it may also increase because of hot and/or humid conditions outside.  An increased body temperature caused by environmental conditions is commonly referred to as hyperthermia, heatstroke, or heat prostration. 

A dog’s normal body temperature is 101.5°F plus or minus 1 degree Fahrenheit, and any time the body temperature is higher than 105°F, a true emergency exists.  Heatstroke generally occurs in hot summer weather when dogs are left with inadequate ventilation in hot vehicles.  However, heatstroke may also occur in other conditions, including:

• When an animal is left outdoors in hot/humid conditions without adequate shade.
• When exercised in hot/humid weather.  
• When left in a car on a relatively cool (70°F) day; a recent study from Stanford University Medical Center found the temperature within a vehicle may increase by an average of 40 degrees Fahrenheit within one (1) hour regardless of the outside temperature. 

Other predisposing factors may be obesity and/or diseases affecting a pet’s airway.  Keep in mind that prolonged seizures, eclampsia (milk fever), poisonings, and many other conditions may cause hyperthermia. 

Also, brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds (Pekingese, Pug, Lhasa Apso, Boston terrier, etc.) may suffer from “ineffectual panter syndrome” which results in an increased body temperature that may be fatal.

Initially, the pet appears distressed and will pant excessively and become restless.  As the hyperthermia progresses, the pet may drool large amounts of saliva from the nose and/or mouth.  The pet may become unsteady on his feet.  You may notice the gums turning blue/purple or bright red in color, which is due to inadequate oxygen.

Here’s what you should do:

• Remove your pet from the environment where the hyperthermia occurred. 
• Move your pet to a shaded and cool environment and direct a fan on him.
• If possible, determine rectal temperature and record it.
• Place your pet in a cold-water bath (or in the shower) without submerging their heads. You can utilize ice cubes in water if you have them and are not near a bathtub.
• You may also wet the ear flaps and paws with cool water.  Directing a fan on these wetted areas will help to speed up evaporative cooling.  Transport to the closest veterinary facility immediately.

Here’s what NOT to do: 

• Do not over-cool the pet. 
• Most pets with hyperthermia have body temperatures greater than 105°F, and a reasonable goal of cooling is to reduce your pet’s body temperature to 102.5-103°F while transporting them to the closest veterinary facility. 
• Do not attempt to force water into your pet’s mouth, but you may have fresh cool water ready to offer should your pet be alert and show an interest in drinking.
• Do not leave your pet unattended for any length of time.
• Beginning the process of cooling the pet immediately is extremely important.  Cool or cold tap water is suitable. 

Severe hyperthermia is a disease that affects nearly every system in the body.  Simply lowering the body temperature fails to address the potentially catastrophic events that often accompany this disorder.  A pet suffering from hyperthermia should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.