Heatstroke Leads to Near Fatal 109° Fever For Golden Retriever
November 1, 2024
Chester Fights for Life at Advanced Veterinary Care Center
“There was a very high chance he was not going to make it,” recalls Andrea Bravo Mathwich of her sweet dog Chester. The 3-year-old Golden Retriever had collapsed during an evening walk in September in South Florida. “He suffered sudden heatstroke on a walk he has done a million times,” adds Andrea who was with a friend at the time. Acting quickly, Andrea sprinted back home to grab her car, while her friend waited with Chester.
“We got him back to the house and worked together to cool him down,” adds Andrea, who called her uncle, a family veterinarian, right away. Chester’s temperature was 109 degrees. The normal body temperature for a dog is between 100.5° and 102.5° Fahrenheit. Heatstroke results when the dog cannot regulate their body temperature, and it rises to 105° Fahrenheit or higher. Andrea’s uncle recommended active cooling, which got Chester’s temperature to about 97°. “But he started to show more visible signs of getting sick,” says Andrea.
Andrea Finds Advanced Veterinary Care Center
A quick online search for a 24-hour emergency veterinarian led Andrea to Advanced Veterinary Care Center in Davie, near Ft. Lauderdale. The AVCC team immediately got to work on Chester. “He had to be taken in, in a stretcher,” she adds. Upon arrival, Chester was cyanotic (needed supplemental oxygen). His blood glucose and blood pressure were low. Chester also had petechia (a sign of bleeding under the skin) on his limbs and abdomen. Doctors discussed with Andrea the severity of Chester’s situation and the amount of intensive care he would require. “He had multiple organ failure. They had to share with me the very scary chances, because that was the truth of the matter,” adds Andrea who recalls the panic going through her mind. “Chester was in a very critical state.”
Chester was hospitalized for 13 days, under the care AVCC’s expert emergency team and board- certified veterinary experts. He was also treated for coagulopathy (prolonged clotting times), thrombocytopenia (low platelets), intestinal dysmotility (the stomach not emptying properly into the intestines), cardiac arrhythmias, a heart murmur, increased liver values, and an acute kidney injury.
Andrea was thrilled with the expert care she received from everyone at AVCC. “It’s a miracle he’s alive,” she exclaims. “They were great at AVCC. They let me sit with him all day every single day. I would be calling every three hours through the night and the staff were great. Honestly, I could not recommend them enough. I could not speak highly enough of everyone. They are so personal and genuinely kind. I became friends with these people.”
Chester at Home
Today Chester is back to his normal self, according to Andrea. “He is my miracle puppy. He is fine, as if nothing has ever happened. Chester loves to chase squirrels and watch Girlmore Girls with me, along with his teddy and his blankie. And he loves going back to Advanced Veterinary Care Center for rechecks, because he gets all the love from everyone there.”
As for her decision to take Chester to Advanced Veterinary Care Center at the time of his emergency, Andrea says, “I have no doubt in my mind he wouldn’t have made it otherwise. It was the best decision I ever made.”
More About Heatstroke:
Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s temperature rises too high and cannot be cooled effectively. This can cause severe damage to body organs and can result in death. Short-muzzle breeds (also known as brachycephalic breeds), as well as older or overweight dogs are at a higher risk for heat stroke.
Heatstroke occurs from exposure to hot or humid environments, or from overly strenuous exercise. Dogs are most at risk for heatstroke during the summer months if exercising in hot and humid weather, if left outside without adequate shade and water, and if they are left alone in a car — where the temperature can increase rapidly. Unlike humans, dogs only have sweat glands on their paws and must rely on panting to cool down.
Clinical signs of heatstroke can include:
- Heavy panting
- Drooling
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Collapse
If elevated body temperatures are prolonged, they will cause damage to every organ in the body. Heatstroke commonly leads to shock, acute gastrointestinal signs (including vomiting, diarrhea, loss of the integrity of the lining of the GI tract), acute kidney injury/renal failure), blood clotting system derangements (spontaneous bleeding), cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), cerebral edema (swelling of the brain), and any of a number of combinations of the above complications.
Unfortunately, many do not survive. The prognosis depends on how high the body temperature gets and how long it remains elevated, as well as the number of organ systems affected and the extent of such system dysfunction. Underlying conditions that already affect the dog can increase the risk of permanent damage or death. Chances of survival improve with early recognition of heatstroke, intensive treatment and supportive care. However, patients that survive are at a greater risk of heatstroke again in the future.
Prevention
- Never leave your dog in a car unattended.
- Avoid strenuous exercise in hot and humid weather.
- Provide access to the shade while outside.
- Offer frequent opportunities to drink water.
- Avoid walks during the hottest time of the day.
- Remain indoors during periods of extreme heat and humidity.
About Advanced Veterinary Care Center –
South Florida’s Premier Veterinary Emergency Hospital
We Have a Fully Staffed Veterinary Emergency Hospital
We have the largest team of veterinary emergency doctors and nurses in South Florida. Our emergency doctors are internship trained and have years of experience in emergency medicine. Every person on our ER team is RECOVER certified (basic and advanced life support/CPR training).
A Collaborative Approach to Veterinary Care
Our emergency doctors are supported 24/7 by our team of board-certified veterinary specialists. We work as a team to provide the best possible outcomes for pets and their people. Great veterinary medical care is a team sport – our collaborative approach and the quality of our team give patients the best chances for the best possible outcomes. We have earned a reputation for handling the most challenging cases because of our team and our approach.
Board Certification. It Matters!
Board certification in an accredited veterinary specialty is the only accepted standard for expertise in veterinary medicine. Our experts are all board certified in their specialties and they have collectively published over 30 peer-reviewed publications in veterinary medical journals.
We Have a State-Of-The-Art Facility
Including a full in-house lab, canine and feline blood products, a brand new 32-slice Fuji CT unit, surgical suites, minimally invasive surgical equipment, flexible and rigid endoscopy, mechanical ventilator, blood products and all equipment and services necessary for state-of-the-art care.
Centrally Located, Easily Accessible, and Worth the Drive.
We are 20 minutes from most of Broward County and 45-60 minutes from much of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.
We are Privately Owned and Operated.
The owners of AVCC are full-time veterinarians and active members of our community.
Advanced Veterinary Care Center in Davie (Broward County) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. If you have any questions regarding our services, please feel free to call us anytime at 954-500-8387 or visit us online here
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