Differences for “ Heat Stroke ”

{R}**Disclaimer**: The information in this article is not intended to replace 
the diagnosis or treatment of a licensed veterinary doctor.  This page is 
intended for educational and informative usage only, and should not be 
considered as medical advice.{/R}
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Heat stroke is also known as sunstroke.  Other medical terms to describe or 
relate to this condition include heat apoplexy, heat hyperpyrexia, malignant 
hyperpyrexia and thermic fever ("heatstroke").
  
The Merck Veterinary Manual groups three conditions together that are related 
to extreme heat, each as a form of heat stroke: heatstroke, heat cramps and 
heat exhaustion (Siegmund 759).  The fourth edition of the manual, from which 
much of this information is obtained, primarily focuses on common farm animals, 
such as horses, cows, pigs and goats, along with dogs and cats.  
  
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual:
  
  : Heat cramps are associated with animals doing hard work in extreme heat 
that loose to much salt due to excessive sweating.  Muscle spasms ensue, and in 
some working animals, such as horses, sweating stops.  If the animal is not 
vomiting, a stomach tube to administer cool water with salt.  Another solution 
is an isotonic saline IV (Siegmund 759).
  
  : Heat exhaustion is attributed to draft animals, resulting in blood vessel 
dilation, and possibly resulting in vessel collapse if blood volume isn't 
increased.  Outward signs include weakness, muscular tremors and collapse.  The 
animal may have a rapid pulse as well as rapid breathing, [Hyperpnea]. Body 
temperature may not necessarily be elevated, and is not as sudden as 
heatstroke.  Treatment for this form includes using cool water on the body.  
Cool water with salt (0.5 grams NaCl per pint of water, or equivalently 1/4 
teaspoon of salt in 9 1/4 cups of water) may be given by mouth.  Isotonic 
saline via IV can be administered with caution, as circulation is impaired and 
too much fluid can result in a PulmonaryEdema (Siegmund 759). 
  
  : Heatstroke refers to what commonly happens in dogs that are exposed to high 
temperatures.  Signs include rapid breathing ([Hyperpnea]) and collapse.  
Vomiting is not uncommon and the animal may have a staring expression of the 
eyes.  Rectal temperature is greatly elevated.  This is likely to result in 
death.  For dogs, immersion in ice cold water water seems to work best.  Cold 
water should be applied to the body of any animal suffering from heatstroke.  
High body temperatures should not be lowered too suddenly. Rectal temperature 
should be monitored every 5 minutes (Siegmund 759-60).
  
In summary, the various forms of heat stroke have different treatments, yet 
they all result from extreme heat situations.  To further complicate matters, 
sugar gliders are far smaller than the animals that are referred to here.  This 
may change the diagnosis and the resulting treatment.
  
= References =
Siegmund, O. H., ed. __The Merck Veterinary Manual__. 4th ed. Rahway: Merck, 
1973.
<BR>
<BR>
"heatstroke." __On-line Medical Dictionary__. Academic Medical 
Publishing & CancerWEB. 21 Jun. 2007. 
<[http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?heatstroke]>.
  
= External Discussions =
[http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8248 Overheated
sugar gliders, Jun 19 gliders: June 19, 2007]
<br>
[http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=49077 Maxwell's
Heatstroke: March 14, 2013]