Description
Paul Aldridge will discuss Summer Emergencies: heat stroke and seasonal toxicities. Emergencies, by their nature, are unpredictable; we never know what is going to walk through the door next! But certain emergency presentations tend to be seen with an increased frequency at certain times of the year; this webinar will look at a few emergency cases that we are more likely to see during the summer months. By looking at the pathophysiology of these cases, and explaining why some commonly held ideas about their management are actually harmful, we can hopefully maximise the outcome for these unfortunate patients. Hyperthermia leading to heat stroke is commonly encountered if we have warmer weather. A raised body temperature is a normal response in processes such as infection, where a raised thermoregulatory set point exists. In non-pyrogenic hyperthermia, the patient gains heat quicker than they can dissipate heat, due to environmental or conformational factors. Common presentations are dogs left in hot cars, and brachycephalic breeds exercised during the heat of the day. The excessive body temperature has effects of the brain, kidneys, liver, GIT and clotting systems; patients can present with clinical signs associated with any of these organs. While active cooling is certainly part of the treatment plan, we will discuss why old fashioned ideas such as wrapping in wet towels, or immersing in cold water are actually deleterious to the patient. Controlled cooling, avoiding hypothermia, and supporting all affected body systems are essential to a successful outcome. With warmer weather dogs are often spending more time outside, and in the garden. Tremorgenic mycotoxin toxicity is an increasingly frequent cause of emergency presentation. Sources include food waste, dustbins, and compost heaps. If the clinician is not familiar with the presenting signs, diagnosis is sometimes confusing. Typical presentation and treatment will be discussed. Another source of toxicity outdoors at this time of year is metaldehyde found in slug pellets. The most common clinical signs are tremors, seizures and hyperthermia; a similar clinical picture to tremorgenic mycotoxins. Stabilisation and treatment will be discussed.