Pet owners assume that cats and dogs are not cold because of their fur coats, but they can suffer from cold and hypothermia if their core temperature drops below normal body temperature. I had a dog who loved to play in the snow, but the coat was not short enough to keep him warm. It would be so cold, chattering teeth if he wasn’t wearing a coat and booties that kept him warm. Our pets are just like us, and some do better than others in the cold. When you see your pet shivering, it is cold. Be aware that hypothermia can be a life-threatening condition that can happen inside or outside the home.
What is hypothermia?
When the body’s core temperature begins to lose heat faster than it can produce it, that is when hypothermia can occur. The normal temperature of a dog or cat is 100 to 102.5 degrees F. When their body temperature drops below the normal body temperature , are at risk of developing hypothermia. Be sure to try a mild, moderate or severe temperature drop. Mild cases are between 90 – 99 degrees F, moderate between 82 – 90 degrees F and severe hypothermia is a body temperature below 82 degrees F.
Causes of hypothermia
Like us, the care can be too cold even at 50 degrees F. A moist delicacy can be exposed to cold air and wind become hypothermic Outside pets without proper shelter that keeps them dry and windy, access to unconsolidated water, inadequate nutrition. from their diet (poor food) or their squalid and uncultivated coat they are in danger of freezing too much. A healthy winter coat is necessary for extra care survival winter and if the coat has a mattress, it cannot be saved. to warm them. Their coat loses its insulating protection when it’s wet or sweltering and can’t trap body heat. Outside care should always be brought inside during periods of cold, snow and wind.
Medical conditions such as kidney disease, arthritis, hypoglycemia (low blood pressure), respiratory problems, thyroid malfunctioning (hypothyroidism) , recovering from anesthesia and handling, poor nutrition resulting in low body fat, or the hypothalamus (the area of the brain that regulates appetite and body temperature) can cause the pet to be more susceptible to hypothermia. The young, the unborn, the elderly or the sick are susceptible to anxiety.
To watch over the house.
The symptoms depend on how severe the hypothermia is. Mild cases include shivering, weakness, lack of appetite and cold-feeling skin. Mild cases include muscle stiffness, lack of appetite, low blood pressure, a blank look and slow and shallow breathing. Severe cases difficulty in hearing pulsations, dilated and fixed pupils and difficulty breathing. If your pet falls into the hair, a serious life emergency is imminent.
How to treat hypothermia.
Mild cases can be easily treated at home. If your pet is outside, bring it inside and cover it with a warm towel. You need to get your core body temperature back to normal. The most accurate way to tell when the temperature has returned to normal is to take your pet with a rectal thermometer.
cases controlled by vet-care. Be prepared to call if your pet’s condition worsens. It is necessary to use other heating sources than a blanket to heat your pet. A heating pad, a plastic bottle filled with hot water or uncooked rice (place in a zip-lock bag and warm in the microwave for a few minutes ) works well. do not use hot water. You risk burning your skin if the water is too hot. Place something between the heat source and your pet to prevent burns. When their temperature returns to normal, the heating process stops. Call yours if you haven’t done so before.
Serious cases should be taken care for your vet that pet will need professional help to foster it from the inside with warm enemas and fluids iv. Wrap it in a cloth and call the vet on the way to the matter. It is always a good idea to keep your pet away from this, even if the hypothermia is mild.
How to prevent hypothermia. Cats, small dogs small dogs and very short dogs are more at risk than dogs with longer hair, but even wet Husky can be too cold. Well-groomed, healthy care with access to fresh water, quality food and a dry shelter (preferably raised off the ground. ) warm bedding the lot is usually fined outside, while their owner keeps a watchful eye on them and brings them inside when the weather is really cold or snowy. The best way to prevent hypothermia is to keep outside care inside, if possible, during the winter months.
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