Hypothermia and Frostbite Part 1

PAWSITIVELY HELPFUL PET TIPS

WITH DR. DEB

"Hypothermia and Frostbite

part 1"

*Frostbitten skin is pale white and blue.  As circulation returns, it becomes red and swollen and may begin to peel.  Eventually it looks black with a line of demarcation between live and dead tissue.  Dead skin and tissue separates from the body in one to three weeks.

TREATMENT FOR FROSTBITE:

*Apply warm (NOT HOT) water soaks to the frostbitten part for 20 minutes, or until the tissue becomes flushed.  Never use snow or ice; tissue damage is made much more severe if thawing is followed by refreezing.  Do not rub or massage the affected parts.  Handle the areas gently.  Take your dog to a veterinarian for further evaluation and treatment.

*Note that as sensation returns, frostbitten parts can be painful.  Prevent the dog from biting at the skin and inflicting further injury.  The total extent of damage may not be apparent for a week or more.

* Naki'o was a puppy when he was found in an basement with his feet frozen in a puddle.  Although he lost his feet, he has recovered and with some help has received new prosthetic feet.

PREVENTION OF COLD WEATHER ISSUES:

*Dog booties nay offer protection for dogs on cold weather outings.  By exploring different types and styles of booties, being sure the size is correct, and taking time to properly introduce the booties, dogs will often tolerate them.  Our BVH clients that are mushers, spending their winters in Alaska where temperatures typically are at or below zero, offer these recommendations for dog booties: dogbooties.com and 10squaredracing.com.

* A slave called MUSHER'S SECRET was developed by sled dog racers and is meant to coat the hair between the pads to prevent the ice chunks from forming.  Vaseline petroleum jelly may offer similar pad protection.  These products may also minimize pad contact with the road and sidewalk de-icing salt.

*DOG VESTS are another popular product for pets that like to recreate in the cold.  Made from neoprene, wool or other fabrics, the vests function just like a coat, insulating the torso.  Many of these are available at outlets that carry hunting dog supplies.

*DOG COATS come in a variety of types.  Coats made out of similar materials as are used to make winter blankets for horses are often a good choice as their outer material tends to be water repellant, and they typically lined with insulating materials.  Coats with belly bands or that cover the dog's underside are also preferred.  Style aside, fabrics that absorb moisture can be worse than no coat at all, as they often hold moisture against the dog's skin.

*Another great tip from our Alaskan mushers is to pour hot water over dry kibble or canned foods at feeding time.  This is applicable for dogs that may not drink enough during cold weather activity or when temperatures cause their water sources to freeze quickly.  This would be especially helpful for dogs that are active in cold temperatures for a number of days, i.e. hunting dogs, sled or skijoring dogs, or dogs accompanying owners on cold weather camping trips or other winter adventures.