28/02/2024
We have a few hot days ahead 🥵,
Why we won’t operate when it’s 30° and over?
Heatstroke is a highly fatal syndrome, caused by elevated core body temperature, where intrinsic and extrinsic heat production exceeds the capability of the heat dissipation mechanisms. In dogs it is characterized by core temperatures above 41°C (105.8ºF), with central nervous system dysfunction.1,15,50 It results from exposure to a hot, often highly humid environment (classical or environmental heatstroke), due to excessive voluntary strenuous physical exercise and/or prolonged uncontrolled muscle tremors or seizures (exertional heatstroke).4,36,51
Neurological abnormalities are invariably present in dogs with clinical heatstroke, including coma (40%), seizures (35%) and stupor (33%).30 Mild cases may show milder central nervous system (CNS) signs, such as disorientation or ‘delirium-like’ behavior. Extreme hyperthermia leads to cerebral hypoperfusion due to respiratory alkalosis and shock.72 This metabolic derangement is combined with the direct hyperthermic effects resulting in vascular damage, cerebral edema, hemorrhage and multifocal vascular thrombosis and infraction.72 Brain histopathology in fatal heatstroke cases in dogs has recorded cerebral edema, hemorrhage, hyperemia, and neuronal necrosis.34 The brain damage in heatstroke has been previously investigated in other mammals, including humans, and has been mainly attributed to a direct brain tissue thermal injury.73 Conversely, it has been shown that the canine brain has intrinsic thermal resistance, protecting it from direct thermal injury.72 It is therefore unlikely that direct thermal brain injury per se is the major factor in the pathogenesis of CNS lesions and abnormalities in dogs, although it might play a more minor part in the pathogenesis. The CNS abnormalities in dogs with heatstroke probably occur mostly secondary to shock and multi-organ dysfunction, including metabolic derangement, alkalosis or acidosis, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, bleeding and formation of microthrombi.34,72
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5800390/
Let’s keep our pets safe ❤️
Heatstroke results from a failure to dissipate accumulated heat during exposure to hot environments, or during strenuous physical exercise under heat stress. It is characterized by core body temperatures > 41°C, with central nervous system ...