Burns in dogs and cats
Burns in small animals are traumatic injuries that can lead to damage to a large area of skin, subcutaneous and muscle tissue, and cause metabolic disorders and disorders in the functioning of the organism as a whole. Thermal injuries represent serious mechanical damage to cells, often of all layers of the skin.
They are usually local in nature, do not cover more than 20% of the skin surface and occur as a result of injuries in the home environment (hot liquids, heaters, hot metals), in veterinary clinics, devices for thermoregulation during surgery, devices for heating hypothermic patients. ) or in the process of hair cover care (hair dryers). The severity and extent of the injury depends not only on the temperature but also on the duration of the thermal contact.
Cases of extensive burns are often very complicated and lead to damage to the respiratory, cardiovascular and immune systems, metabolic disorders, and electrolyte imbalances.
One of the common problems that occur, in addition to direct mechanical damage to cells, is hypoproteinemia, which can be pronounced and which in combination with electrolyte imbalance and hypovolemia can lead to a state of shock and severe hypotension. The supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells and tissues is reduced, which causes a number of changes and disorders in the body.
If the burns are caused by a fire, there may be problems with the respiratory system and potential carbon monoxide poisoning.
Rapid response, stabilization and intensive care are crucial to save an individual’s life. Often, the stay in intensive care units is long and recovery is uncertain if it is burns that affect a larger part of the body and which consequently lead to other systemic disorders.