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Hypothermia
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Prolonged hypothermia (low body temperature) when exposed to extremely cold temperatures can lead to frost bite. Usually frostbite occurs on the extremities like the toes, tail, and ears. These areas are the first to get frostbitten because the body in extreme cold will divert blood flow and heat to the core area including the heart and lungs. If these areas are not re-warmed it will lead to the cells dying for good and possibly causing that part of the body having to be surgically removed. Make sure that you consult your vet the same day of the frostbite occurrence.

Symptoms

Steps
1   Check if your dog is breathing. If not breathing, begin artificial respiration by closing your dog’s mouth with one or two hands and gently breathe into your dog’s nostrils.
2   Administer 5-10 breaths per minute for large dogs and 10-20 breaths per minute for small dogs. With each breath, one should see the chest slightly rise.
3   Keep breathing for your dog until he/she is able to breathe on its own or until veterinary help is available.
4   Take your dog inside and warm him up inside your clothing to share your body heat
5   If possible use a rectal thermometer to take his temperature every 10-15 minutes to see how he is recovering
6   Dry his fur with towels or a hair dryer making sure the dryer is a foot away and set on low
7   Place a towel or blanket in a dryer and then loosely wrap him in it until the shivering stops. Vigorously rub your pet’s body and limbs. Apply hot water bottles wrapped in a towel to your dog’s belly.
8   If there are frost bitten areas on your pet, apply luke warm compresses to the affected areas.
9   Provide him some warm water or warm chicken broth in a bowl to drink
10   Continue the rewarming process until his temp is back to 99 F then he will gradually warm himself back
11   If the temp does not rise within 30-45 minutes of rewarming take him to the emergency vet clinic immediately
Warnings
Make sure the hair dryer is a foot away and set on low and you move the dryer around to avoid burning a specific area of skin
DO NOT soak him in warm water as that will cause him to remove heat
If your dog has hypothermia once there is a greater chance of getting it again
DO NOT rub the frostbitten areas. Instead, place the lukewarm cloth gently on the affected frostbitten areas only
Tips
Dogs recover from mild hypothermia quickly
Normal body temperature for a dog is 99.5 F - 102.5 F
Shivering is a good sign as it means the body is trying to rewarm itself
Transport your pet to the nearest vet hospital in the car with heat on high

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