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In this lesson, we'll be introducing you to hypothermia emergencies that you may encounter, especially if you live in parts of the world where winter means snow and ice and all those lovely single-digit temperature readings.
Before we get into how you should handle a hypothermia emergency, let's address the signs and symptoms of hypothermia. These include:
- Recent exposure to extreme cold
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Low body temperature
Pro Tip #1: If you live in an unforgivably cold climate and your pet has been outside a while in those frosty temperatures, get into the habit of checking her temperature after she comes back inside. If her temperature is normal, great! But if it's low, she'll need to be warmed up a bit.
What to do in Case of Hypothermia
Since warming too aggressively or quickly can be problematic, this should happen under veterinary care. Which means your role in this is to gently warm your pet in a way that keeps her comfortable for the ride to the nearest veterinary facility.
Wrap your pet in a large towel or blanket to help her body begin to rewarm naturally. And wrap her in something that will also keep her more comfortable on the way to see the vet.
Pro Tip #2: Just remember that you DO NOT want to actively warm your pet after a hypothermia emergency. This can be counterproductive. Just wrap up your pet so she doesn't continue to lose excessive body heat. It's kind of like stopping the bleeding, but then letting the vet handle the stitches. Most importantly, get to the vet as soon as you can.
When Hypothermia isn't Hypothermia
Let's say your pet is showing signs of hypothermia minus the exposure to cold temperatures. This is a bad sign, as the likely cause of low body temperature in a pet with no exposure to cold is a circulatory issue, and possibly even circulatory failure. This can be very serious and definitely warrants an immediate trip to the nearest veterinary care facility.
