Educational

A well-trained dog understands and is secure in its place in the world, is safer, is an example of responsible dog ownership, and is a pleasure to live with!

*** HEART WORM PREVENTION ***

WHAT EVERY DOG OWNER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEARTWORMS

Larry P. Occhipinti, DVM, MPVM
Guardman's Veterinary & K9 Reproduction Services
(Posted 6.11.09)

Heatstroke is something we need to try to avoid if at all possible.

Never leave dogs unattended in vehicles or yards with minimal shade when the temperatures rise above 90 degrees. Avoid exercise during the peak hours where heat and humidity are at their worst. Provide lots of cool shade, water, and in hot regions install misters set on timers to deliver a cool-mist every 5 to 10 minutes for 2 or 3 minutes to the shady areas of your yard, and water should be available for drinking at all times. Wading pools in the shade should be provided as well.

The normal body temperature of the dog is between 100 and 102.5 degrees.

Dogs are not as efficient in eliminating excess heat from their bodies as people are. They exchange heat through their tongue and nasal passages, the sweat glands located in their perianal and interdigital areas, and through their skin.

When a dog's tongue begins to enlarge markedly as it pants, this is the canine body trying to increase the surface area of it's primary heat exchange respiratory system organ to eliminate its excess heat, but only so much heat can be eliminated in this manner, or through sweating and from the passive exchange from the skin itself, due to the limited numbers of sweat glands on the canine body, and limited surface area of skin.

Early signs of heatstroke are excessive enlargement of the tongue, extreme heavy panting, progressing to incoordination, weakness, elevated heart rate, seizures, collapse, shock, respiratory arrest, and organ failure due to hypoperfusion and increased clotting and embolic showers that may occur in the circulatory system, called DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation).

If you find your dog in a situation where it has overheated and is mentally dull, uncoordinated, shock is beginning to set in and you must get a fan on the dog and rinse the dog in a continuous stream of cool water immediately and for 15 to 30 minutes.

If the dog is not responding quickly, rush to the nearest veterinary hospital for further evaluation and therapy.

At the veterinary hospital continued efforts to cool the dog will include cool water enemas, cool water rinse, and isopropyl alcohol applied with towelettes to the neck, armpits, abdomen, groin regions, and feet.

Seizures, shock, and collapse must be aggressively treated ASAP for the dog in serious respiratory and thermal compromise.

IV fluids, mannitol, steroids, and supplemental oxygen are some of the things that may be necessary to halt the deadly cascade of physiological events that occur with severe heatstroke.

If DIC has occurred or does occur shortly after emergency stabilization, continued IV fluids and anticoagulative medications may also be necessary for several days or longer, as well as repeated monitoring of rectal temperature, mentation, respiration, neurological and renal function, PaO2, and blood levels of FDP's and clotting times.

Again, the best medicine for heatstroke is PREVENTION if possible, but should it happen please seek prompt and aggressive emergency care for your dog in distress.....unfortunately, many serious cases of heat stroke are fatal despite our best efforts to treat them.

AN HBR TIP: Do not use ice, iced water, or extremely cold water when attempting to cool the body of an over-heated dog. Doing so can cause cardiac arrest. The super cold water also causes blood vessels to constrict, which slows down the cooling process. It is much more effective and safe to use 'cool' water to hose down the dog. Keep the dog on its feet and slowly walk if possible. This keeps the cooled blood circulating, and also allows air to circulate around its body. Please stay safe in the summer time heat!

Definitions of Animal Cruelty

Inadequate food and water
Improper housing
Lack of protection from inclement weather
Chaining or tethering an animal 24 hours a day
Using a chain that is too heavy or too tight
Hitting an animal
Kicking an animal
Beating an animal
Abandoning an animal
Using an animal for competitive fighting

.....How to Report Animal Cruelty.....

Call Houston Humane Society at 713.433.6421
Or Online at www.houstonhumane.org

There is a $27.00 Home Visit Fee which is non-refundable. (Note: This fee is non-refundable and does not apply to the adoption fee.) This policy is in effect for reasons we will be glad to discuss at the time of your interview.

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