Heat Prostration:

Early warning signs are 1. Heavy panting and bright red (brick red) mucous
membranes. Look at the gums and the conjunctival tissue around the eyes. These
areas should be pink but not red. 2. Anxiety and agitation. 3. Tachycardia
(elevated heart rate). 4. Hyperthermia - normal body temp for a dog should be
somewhere between 100 and 102 deg. Fahrenheit. Heat stroke or heat prostration
usually develops with acute elevations of body temps over 106 deg. Fahrenheit.
Because our mean body temperature is lower than a dog's, a dog will almost always
feel warm or hot to the human touch. Use a thermometer to determine what the dog's
temperature actually is. By doing this it will also give you a good idea of how
severe the problem is. 5. Stumbling and staggering.

If the condition persists and progresses the following signs will appear.
6. Severe respiratory distress and cyanosis (mucous membranes will become blue).
7. Stupor. The dog will appear very lifeless and like it is drunk. 8. Hemorrhagic
diarrhea and vomiting. 9. Seizures and coma. 10. Respiratory arrest.

The goal of therapy should be to attempt an immediate reversal of the hyperthermia
and correction of shock and cerebral edema (buildup of fluid around the brain) and
prevention or treatment of delayed complications such as renal failure.

Field treatment of hyperthermia (heat prostration) is basically limited to the
immediate cooling down of the dog. The primary goal should be to lower the dog's
temp. rapidly to 103 deg. Fahrenheit with 10 minutes. Several techniques can be
used. First, move the dog to a cool area (in the shade or air-conditioned
environment). Immerse the dog in COOL water not COLD. Another is to give the dog
an alcohol bath (isopropyl alcohol - this means NO SMOKING). Alcohol will evaporate
quickly and this evaporative effect will help to cool the dog down. Apply the
alcohol to the dog's groin and axillary (armpit) areas. Another good area to apply
the alcohol to is the footpads. Use of a fan will enhance the evaporative cooling
process. Wrapping the dog in a towel and then packing around him with ice packs can
also be used. Concentrate the ice packs in the abdominal area. Once the body
temperature reaches 103 deg. Fahrenheit, moderate the treatment accordingly and try
to lower the temperature farther at a rate of approximately 1degree per hour.
Do not attempt to lower the temperature too rapidly or Hypothermia could occur.

If you are unable to lower the temperature to 103 deg. Fahrenheit within the first
10 minutes, you should be seeking veterinary care immediately. Use of ice water
baths and cold water enemas should be employed only if the hyperthermia is
unresponsive to previous therapy. A cold water enema can be given with the type
of water/enema bottle combinations that can be purchased at many local pharmacies
and stores like Wal Mart or K Mart. Be sure when giving an enema that you let the
water flow by gravity only. Don't attempt to force the water in the dog's rectum
too rapidly.

If ice water baths or cold water enemas are required to lower the temperature,
one should be seeking additional veterinary care as soon as possible. Appropriate
IV therapy with multiple electrolyte solutions and short-acting corticosteroid
therapy will probably then be administered for shock and to combat potential renal
(kidney) and cerebral edema complications.

A field emergency kit for the treatment of heat prostration should consist of but
may not be limited to the following:
1. A digital rectal thermometer.
2. Isopropyl Alcohol
3. Sponges or cotton balls to administer the alcohol with. Saturate the sponges or
cotton balls with the alcohol and then squeeze it over the footpads, groin and
axillary areas.
4. A combination enema/water bottle kit. The water bottle can also be filled with
cold water and packed against the dog's abdomen or can be filled with cool water and
used to give the dog an enema.
5. Cold packs that can be activated by squeezing. These can be used to pack around
the dog or even put in water if the hyperthermia is not responsive to more moderate
treatments and an ice water bath is needed.

Prevention of heat prostration is not always easy to achieve when working your dog
in extreme temperatures especially when dealing with dogs like retrievers who
possess so much drive and desire. Watch your dog closely for changes in attitude
such as restlessness and anxiety, or lack of drive. Excessive panting or salivating.
Cool it down often when working in extreme temperatures. I recommend using
electrolyte solutions for drinking water when working the dogs in extreme
temperatures. Several electrolyte mixtures (Electramine, K-9 Bluelite, and
Pedia-Sorb) are available for canines and usually come in small pouches that can
be mixed with water. Mix the solution appropriately and freeze in ice cube trays
and then periodically offer the dog water with the electrolyte ice cubes added to
its drinking water or just give them the electrolyte ice cubes to lick on. Another
good idea is to put ice packs of some kind in the dog's crates for them to lie on
and cool off during brief but regular breaks when training. Make sure the dog has
access to cool water to drink. Keep the dogs, when crated, in the shade and don't
forget to check on them periodically. I helped treat a dog at a hunt test once for
heat prostration. The dog had finished its test almost an hour earlier and had been
crated. The owner left the test area and came to the central meeting place and when
he checked on the dog it was in severe trouble. Fortunately, we were able to
effectively treat the dog after giving it a cold water enema and corticosteroid
therapy when more moderate cooling treatments were ineffective. The dog received
his HRCH title that day also. Talk about a grateful owner.

Hope this helps.

DR.J
Good Luck and Good Hunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!