Heatstroke in Exotic Companion Mammals

Date: April 4, 2012

By: Christal Pollock, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

Reviewed by: Kenneth Drobatz, DVM, MSCE, Dipl. American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dipl. American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care; University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Rose Ann Fiskett, VMD, Dipl. American Board of Veterinary Practitioners-Exotic Companion Mammal, Dipl. ABVP-Avian

Keywords: ,

Categories: Chinchilla,  Ferret,  Mammals,  Rabbit,  Rodent,  Emergency Medicine 

Key Points

  • Heatstroke is characterized by neurologic dysfunction paired with hyperthermia.
  • History is usually the most helpful factor in diagnosing heatstroke, however owners do not always realize when the environment is too warm for their pet chinchilla or when ventilation is inadequate for their rabbit.
  • Always consider heatstroke when body temperature exceeds 104° to 105°F (40° to 40.6°C) without evidence of inflammation.
  • Heat-induced illness can cause dysfunction of all major organ systems.
  • Treatment is aimed at reducing core body temperature while supporting organ function with oxygen and fluid resuscitation.
  • Do not immerse your patient in cold water or ice baths since this will cause severe peripheral vasoconstriction, thereby inhibiting the patient’s ability to dissipate heat.
  • Do not cool your patient to the point of hypothermia, as this will worsen prognosis.

Heatstroke is the most severe form of heat-related illnesses. In this life-threatening condition, the body is unable to dissipate heat load at a rate that accommodates excessive heat levels.

Begin treatment immediately once heatstroke is suspected. Intensive care is aimed at reducing body temperature while supporting organ function. A variety of techniques can be used to lower core body temperature. Administration of intravenous or intraosseous fluids is a popular internal cooling technique that also serves to support organ function . . .

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References

Damanhouri ZA, Tayeb OS. Animal models for heat stroke studies. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 28(3):119-127, 1992.

Drobatz KJ. Heat Stroke. In: Silverstein DC, Hopper K (eds). Small Animal Critical Care Medicine. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier: 2009. Pp. 723-726.

Epstein Y, Roberts WO. The pathophysiology of heat stroke: an integrative view of the final common pathway. Scand J Med Sci Sports 21(6):742-748, 2011.

Fisher PG, Carpenter JW. Neurologic and musculoskeletal diseases. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. P. 254.

Ford RB, Mazzaferro EM. Kirk and Bistner’s Handbook of Veterinary Procedures and Emergency Treatment. Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, 2012. Pp. 145-146.

Helman RS. Heatstroke. Medscape Reference. Available at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/166320-overview. Accessed on February 23, 2012.

Horseman MA, Rather-Conally J, Saavedra C, Surani S. A case of severe heatstroke and review of pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment. J Intensive Care Med. 2012 Jan 17. [Epub ahead of print]

Lin MT, Lin SZ. Cerebral ischemia is the main cause for the onset of heat stroke syndrome in rabbits. Experientia 48(3):225-227, 1992.

Mattis JG, Yates AM. Heat stroke: helping patients keep their cool. Nurse Pract 36(5):48-52, 2011.

Mazzaferro EM. Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010.

Miller JB. Hyperthermia and fever. In: Silverstein DC, Hopper K (eds). Small Animal Critical Care Medicine. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier: 2009. Pp. 21-26.

Oglesbee BL. Heatstroke and heat stress. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Small Mammal, 2nd ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell; 2011. Pp. 432-433.

Riggs SM, Mitchell MA. Chinchillas. In: Manual of Exotic Pet Practice. Mitchell MA, Tully TN (eds). Saunders, St. Louis, 2009. P. 486.

To cite this page:

Pollock CG. Heatstroke in exotic companion mammals. April 4, 2012. LafeberVet Web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/heatstroke-in-exotic-companion-mammals/