What is frostbite in pets?

Frostbite can occur when pets are exposed to cold temperatures for extended periods of time. As in humans, prolonged exposure will cause an animal’s blood vessels to constrict to redirect blood from the extremities to warm and protect the vital organs including the brain, lungs and heart. Your pet’s nose, tail, ears, and paws are most susceptible to tissue damage because of this protective reaction. Cold weather breeds, including Siberian huskies and Alaskan malamutes, are less prone to frostbite because they have thick fur coats. However, all animals are at risk of developing frostbite with some pets at increased risk. These include: 

• Senior pets
• Small-breed dogs
• Cats
• Pets with short fur and hairless breeds
• Puppies and kittens
• Pets with chronic illness or heart disease

Frostbite signs in pets

Although rarely life-threatening, frostbite is often a precursor to hypothermia which can be fatal in some cases. Frostbite’s effect can be difficult to detect on pets and may take days to appear, so ensure you check your pet’s foot pads and other extremities if they have been outside in the cold. Changes in the appearance of your pet’s skin may indicate that the tissue is frostbitten which could result in tissue damage and potential loss of the affected body part. If your pet has been exposed to frigid temperatures, monitor them closely for the following signs:

• Skin that first appears pale or bluish-white, and later becomes red and puffy 
• Red or gray-tinged skin on the ears, tail, or nose
• Skin that appears brittle or shriveled and stays cold to the touch
• Pain in the ears, tail, paws, or nose when touched
• Ice crystals in or around the nose

Frostbite treatment in pets

Immediately cover the affected areas with a warm dry towel or blanket if you notice clinical frostbite signs in your pet. Frostbitten skin will become red and swollen as it begins to thaw and the blood returns to the affected tissues. However, seek treatment with your family veterinarian immediately if the skin becomes dark or bring your pet to Animal Emergency Care if it is after hours. A veterinary exam is important, while not an emergency unless your pet’s skin is dark or black, to ensure your pet does not have any long-term effects that may need treatment. Frostbite is painful to most pets, and medication may be needed to reduce discomfort. Also, depending on the severity of your pet’s frostbite, the following treatments may be recommended: 

• Antibiotics to prevent damaged tissue from becoming infected
• Topical creams to soothe and protect damaged skin 
• Warm intravenous (IV) fluids and a warming environment
• Surgery or amputation to remove damaged tissue

Pets with mild frostbite cases will likely not require an extended hospital stay. However, some pets may require surgery to remove the damaged tissue or amputation of an affected body part. These pets may need to stay in the veterinary hospital for a few days so their animal care team can closely monitor their recovery. Also, your veterinarian will likely want follow-up appointments to ensure your pet is healing and recovering well.

Financial planning for pets undergoing treatment for frostbite

Rushing your pet to the veterinary clinic for treatment, especially for accidental injuries, can be stressful for pet parents, many of whom worry about the costs of treating their four-legged family member. However, multiple options, including pet health insurance, are available to ease the financial burdens associated with your pet’s veterinary care and treatment. So, plan ahead and research pet health insurance options before your pet needs a costly emergency veterinary visit. Most pet insurance providers, including Trupanion, have policies that include reimbursement for accidents or illness requiring emergency veterinary care. Additionally, Trupanion  has an express program that pays your veterinary clinic directly which eliminates the need to submit paperwork and wait for reimbursement. Alternate payment methods include Care Credit and Scratch Pay, and short-term bank loans may also help you make veterinary bill payments on a more manageable schedule.

Preventing frostbite in your pet

The best way to prevent frostbite is to limit your pet’s outdoor activities in the colder months to avoid exposure to frigid temperatures. Consider dressing them in a sweater or jacket to keep their main body warm and dog boots to help ensure their paws keep warm and dry before taking your pet out for walks or bathroom breaks. Additionally, ensure your pet’s fur is dry before going outside to prevent their body temperature from quickly dropping and keep them away from any body of water. 

Call your family veterinarian to schedule an exam if your furry friend has unexpectedly decided to explore the great outdoors in freezing temperatures, and you suspect they are frostbitten. Call our Animal Emergency Clinic office if they have severe symptoms. #AECprevents

The post When Furry Friends Get Frosty: Managing Frostbite in Pets  appeared first on Animal Emergency Care (AEC) Bellingham, WA.

What is hypothermia in pets?

A healthy pet’s body temperature is normally much higher than a human’s, ranging from 100 to 102.5 degrees. Changes in your pet’s body temperature can cause hypothermia which is a medical condition that occurs when their body temperature drops below 100 degrees. Smaller pets and young and geriatric animals are at greater risk of developing this condition. Pets with chronic health problems, such kidney or heart disease, also have an increased risk of developing hypothermia. Exposure to frigid temperatures or freezing cold water are the most common causes of hypothermia in pets. Other causes include:

• Hypothyroidism
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease 
• Low blood pressure 
• Metabolic disease (i.e., hypoadrenocorticism, or Addison’s disease)
• Shock due to a traumatic event or injury

How will I know if my pet has hypothermia? 

The quickest, most effective way to diagnose hypothermia is by measuring your pet’s rectal temperature using a standard digital thermometer. Depending on the underlying cause of your pet’s low body temperature, clinical signs may include: 

• Shivering
• Lethargy
• Muscle stiffness
• Shallow or difficulty breathing
• Pale skin
• Muscle stiffness
• Low heart rate
• Dilated pupils

How is hypothermia in pets treated?

If your pet has clinical signs consistent with hypothermia or their body temperature has dropped below 100 degrees, bring them inside immediately and cover them with warm blankets or towels. Never wrap your pet in a heating pad or submerge them in hot or warm water to avoid injury or illness from warming them too quickly. Occasionally, mild hypothermia can be treated at home by checking your pet’s temperature every 10 minutes, and providing warm blankets until their body temperature reaches 100 degrees. However, bring them to your family veterinarian or Animal Emergency Clinic immediately if your pet is showing signs of severe hypothermia or has not improved after 30 minutes of home-warming treatment. The veterinarian who takes over your pet’s care will provide various treatments to safely raise their body temperature that may include:

• Warm intravenous (IV) fluids 
• Lining their kennel or crate with pads that circulate warm water 
• Wrapping them in special blankets that safely circulate warm air 
• Warm oxygen therapy
• Warm water bottles placed around their body
• Heart monitoring with an electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Respiratory monitoring and observation
• Regular temperature monitoring 
• Blood work to determine underlying medical causes and check for organ damage

Treatment methods for your pet with hypothermia will ultimately depend on symptom severity or whether your pet has any underlying medical condition. Some pets may need a combination of treatments to ensure a successful outcome.

Financial planning for pets needing costly treatment

Severe hypothermia cases may require hospitalization for several days or weeks as well as numerous follow-up progress checks. Such long-term veterinary care can be costly and stressful for pet parents but, fortunately, pet health insurance can ensure you can cover the cost of your pet’s emergency care for an unexpected condition like hypothermia. Most pet insurance providers offer policies that include reimbursement for accidents or illness requiring emergency veterinary care. Some providers, such asTrupanion, will pay your veterinary clinic directly, which eliminates the need to submit paperwork and wait for reimbursements.

Alternate payment methods can also decrease the worry about large veterinary bills by allowing payments to be spread out over longer periods. These payment methods include: 

• CareCredit — This credit card can be used specifically for veterinary and human medical services, allows pet owners to spread out payments, and delays interest for a certain time period. Most veterinary facilities offer six months without interest for treatment that costs more than$200. 
• Scratch Pay — This service provides fast, flexible payment options with variable interest rates depending on an individual’s credit. Scratch Pay can only be used at one veterinary facility at a time, although pet parents can re-apply to use this service at multiple locations. 
• Short-term loans — These loans typically have high interest rates, making them less than ideal, but they are available as a last resort.

How can hypothermia in pets be prevented?

Ensure your pet does not have prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures during the cold winter months. Generally, it is too cold for your pet if it is too cold outside for you. Consider a coat and protective boots to help them stay warm and avoid hypothermia if your pet does need to go outside briefly. Additionally, ensure your pet’s fur is dry before going outside to prevent their body temperature from dropping quickly and keep them away from bodies of water.

Call or visit your family veterinarian if you suspect mild hypothermia in your pet. However, contact our team at Animal Emergency Care and bring in your pet for immediate treatment if your pet is showing severe signs. #AECprevents

The post Being Cold is Not Cool: Understanding Hypothermia in Pets  appeared first on Animal Emergency Care (AEC) Bellingham, WA.