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Hyperthermia
Synonym(s): High/elevated body temperature
Introduction
- Cause: hyperthermia occurs when the body over produces or over absorbs heat in high environmental temperatures and hot climate.
- Signs: weakness, anorexia, dehydration and increased respiratory rate; seizure and death in severe cases.
- Diagnosis: history, rectal temperature and general evaluation.
- Treatment: hyperthermia requires immediate treatment, including cooling the animal down and supportive treatment such as oxygen supplementation and intravenous fluid therapy.
- Prognosis: guarded.
- Hyperthermia is different from fever:
- Fever is an increase in body temperature that results from an increase in the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center due to bacterial or viral infection.
- Hyperthermia is an increase in body temperature due to an increase of heat production or absorption without changes of the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center.
Presenting signs
- Weakness.
- Lethargy.
- Lateral recumbency.
- Increased respiratory rate.
- Dyspnea.
- Hypersalivation, frothing at the mouth.
- Reduced food intake and anorexia Anorexia.
- Dehydration.
- Increased rectal temperature >40.5°C/104.9°F.
- Muscle tremors.
- Diarrhea Diarrhea.
- Hyperemia.
Acute presentation
- Cyanosis.
- Blood-tinged fluids from mouth and nose.
- Collapse.
- Ataxia Ataxia.
- Seizures.
- Death.
Geographic incidence
- More prevalent in hotter climates.
Special risks
- Hyperthermia can lead to severe metabolic acidosis.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- At high environmental temperatures, the animal may gain more heat than it can lose, leading to hyperthermia.
- Hyperthermia then causes decreased arterial pressure and decreased blood perfusion of brain and major organs such a kidneys and liver.
- Structural damage to body proteins can result in tissue damage and organ failure.
Predisposing factors
General
- Outdoor pen without shade.
- Poor ventilation.
- Inadequate supply of cool drinking water.
- Thick hair coat.
- Obesity Obesity.
- Old age.
- Crowding.
- Stress and pain.
- Transportation.
- Heating device during general anesthesia.
Specific
- Elevated environmental temperature.
- Faulty heating device in vivarium or faulty thermostat.
- High humidity.
- Direct sunlight in warm weather.
Pathophysiology
- Heat stress Heat stress may lead to ischemia and cell necrosis throughout the body.
- Lack of sweat glands in the skin means ferrets are vulnerable to heat stress in hot climates.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Orcutt C J (1998) Emergency and critical care of ferrets. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 1 (1), 99-126 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Meredith A (2009) Ferrets: Dermatoses. In: Manual of Rodents and Ferrets. Eds: Keeble E & Meredith A. BSAVA, UK. pp 269-274.
- Lewington J (2005) Ferrets. In: Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of Exotic Species: Structure and Function of Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians. Ed: O’Malley B. W B Saunders, USA. pp 237-261.