Summer is just a few months away and the intense heat of each year can give pet owners a good scare and even make a great holiday a tragedy. Of course, this is referring to the dreaded “heat stroke,” which is nothing more than a critical increase in body temperature that can cause organ damage and even death within in a few minutes. For this reason, it is very important to be able to identify the risks and symptoms of this dangerous syndrome and know when it is prudent to retain emergency pet care in Rockville MD.
How is mammal temperature regulated? Concerning both animals and people, each has the ability to adapt to wide temperature ranges thanks to various changes that are made in the body. In a person’s case, sweat is the best weapon to combat the heat but pets do not have sweat glands, which means they have to resort to other cooling systems like gasping. In this way, furry friends are able to play in high temperatures and their body temperature stays around 38-39ºC.
The problem arises when the thermoregulatory system is not enough and there is an increase of the internal temperature if it exceeds 42ºC it can cause damage to their internal organs that can lead to the death of the pet. What symptoms can pet owners observe if their pet has had a heat stroke? If the pet’s panting is not enough to control the rise in temperature, people can observe very fast and forced gasping from the animal, along with excessive salivation. If hyperthermia is still not controlled, muscle tremors, cyanosis (bluish color of mucous membranes) or small hemorrhages may occur.
Internally, high temperatures damage the organs causing gastrointestinal hemorrhages, hepatic and renal insufficiency, cerebral edema and multiorgan failure. If this happens, it is best to get Emergency Pet Care in Rockville MD fast. In any case, pet owners must take into account that to treat this syndrome it is essential to reduce the animal’s temperature so it does not damage the internal organs. Once their normal temperature is restored, it is important to keep the pet under observation for at least 48 hours to make sure there are no complications. Visit The Groomery to learn more.
