old country house blog

BEANS BIG SCARY ADVENTURE and HYPOTHERMIA IN DOGS

BEAN gave us a big scare today.

He could barely leap over the snow which was deeper than he is tall.

So I (stupidly) let him off leash. He took off and ran through 18 inch deep snow deep into the woods . We could barely get back to get him and almost an hour went by. In preparation for the storm I had read about dogs and hyperthermia and I was so scared he would just stop being able to leap and freeze to death.

(FROM PET MD) TREATMENT FOR HYPOTHERMIA:

Hypothermia can occur in any of the following situations:

  1. Exposure to cold for a long time
  2. Wet fur and skin
  3. Submersion in cold water for long time
  4. Shock
  5. Anesthesia given for a long duration

Immediate Care

  1. Warm some blankets on a radiator or in the clothes dryer with haste.
  2. Wrap the dog in the blankets.
  3. Wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and place it against the dog’s abdomen. Do not use it unwrapped, as this will burn the skin.
  4. If the dog is conscious, give him warmed fluids to drink.
  5. Check the dog’s temperature every 10 minutes: if it is below 98°F (36.7°C), get immediate veterinary attention.
  6. Once the temperature is above 100°F ( 37.8°C), you can remove the hot water bottle to avoid overheating. Keep the dog in a warm room.

THANK GOODNESS –

We were walking back to the house to get some food to try to entice him back and our neighbor walked out of the woods with a very cold and very lethargic Bean. I WAS SO HAPPY!!! I hugged my neighbor !!!

BEAN AFTER HIS BIG FREEZING ADVENTURE
BEAN AFTER HIS BIG FREEZING ADVENTURE

It felt like a miracle! We warmed him back up and he has been resting inside . IT was such a terrifying thing ….and I am so grateful that he is safe. I now know that NOTHING will keep him from running off… Not even snow over his head! Time for a wooden fence. Stay warm . Be safe. 

5 thoughts on “BEANS BIG SCARY ADVENTURE and HYPOTHERMIA IN DOGS

  1. Our beagle always had to be leashed or fenced in, she would just take off, sniffing and running with no idea of her safety. Scary! I’m so glad Bean is okay!! karen…

  2. I’m so glad is back and safe. Sweet boy!! I have two dogs, that sometimes I allow to stroll without a leash on a small garden we have near home and my heart is always “outside my chest” until i leashed them back safe. But this is the only way I have for the younger one to urinate outside… is on training.

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