Depending on the severity of illness, it may take only a limited amount of time — 30 minutes — or a prolonged amount of time — several days — to stabilize a dog or cat. Prognosis is generally guarded with shock, and some patients may not be able to rebound, depending on age and severity of compromise.
When a dog experiences shock, it can be a very scary experience for both the pet and the pet parent. Shock is a serious medical condition that can cause a variety of symptoms, including difficulty breathing and a decreased heart rate. If your pup is experiencing shock, immediate veterinary attention is essential. Knowing how long shock lasts in a dog is important for pet parents to be aware of so that they can properly monitor their pup’s progress and be ready to act if the symptoms worsen or persist. In this blog post, we will discuss the duration of shock in a dog, potential causes of shock, and steps pet parents should take if they suspect that their pup is in shock.
How to Recognize the Symptoms of a Dog in Shock
Understanding the three main stages of shock in dogs will help you spot the symptoms and take your dog to the vet before they worsen.
Here are a few early indicators that your dog may be experiencing shock.
The gums will be bright red.
You will notice a rapid pulse. To check your dog’s pulse, palpitate the femoral artery with the tips of two fingers inside the thigh on the groin.
Your dog may begin acting uneasy or anxious.
They will start to exhibit shallow breathing.
At this stage, the pulse is still easy to find.
You’ll notice that these symptoms intensify as your dog’s shock worsens.
The heartbeat rises even higher.
You will notice a pale or blue color to their gums, lips and eyelids.
The pulse becomes more difficult to find.
Your dog will begin to appear weak and lethargic.
Their breathing may become more rapid and shallow, or remain normal.
The legs, skin and mouth may suddenly cool.
You may notice a lower rectal temperature, but depending on the cause of the shock, it may also may elevate or stay normal.
Before your dog loses consciousness, the following symptoms are typically present during the final stages of shock:
The rectal temperature may drop critically low.
The gums will look almost white or mottled.
Your dog’s heart muscles will start to fail. The heart rate often elevates or becomes irregular, but may also remain normal or slow down.
You will find that it’s difficult to locate a pulse. If you find one, it will feel very weak.
The eyes will appear to glaze over or become unfocused with a fixed stare. Their pupils will also dilate.
The respiration will change to slow and shallow or rapid and deep.
Your dog may move from lethargy into a stupor or a coma.
What is shock and why does it occur?
Lack of oxygen to the body’s tissues causes shock, which is typically brought on by a drop in blood volume or blood pressure.
The body’s circulatory system malfunctions during a state of shock, making it difficult for the tissues and organs, including the heart and brain, to receive enough oxygen. The body’s reaction to this is to stop blood flow to the skin, speed up the heartbeat in an effort to distribute enough blood and oxygen throughout the body, and divert blood flow away from the gut in order to prioritize vital organs. As a result, the animal feels sick and thirsty and may eventually collapse.
Shock is a serious condition caused by a significant drop in blood pressure.
Don’t apply artificial heat. You can wrap them in a blanket, but don’t add a heat pad or outside heat source. Not only could it burn the dog, the heat could cause the blood vessels to dilate and demand more blood, further taxing an already stressed cardiovascular system.
Don’t put water or food in your dog’s mouth. They could aspirate it into their lungs.
Don’t give medication unless instructed by a veterinarian.
Don’t allow them to run around. The dog may not yet feel the injury due to adrenaline. Moving around could increase internal bleeding and further compound injury. It also wastes precious energy the dog needs to fight the shock. This could be fatal!
If your dog has been in a serious accident but appears normal, don’t assume all is well. The early stages of shock are difficult to see, and your dog can go downhill very quickly if things aren’t caught immediately and treated.
Don’t assume that your dog will be friendly. Dogs in shock have low blood flow to their brain, so they aren’t themselves. They may lash out and bite. If this is the case, find a way to secure your dog’s mouth with muzzle. However, make sure it’s not so tight that the dog can’t breathe.
If your dog loses consciousness and you can’t find a heartbeat, you must start CPR right away to preserve his life.
Call for help and see if you can get someone to help you drive your dog to the vet.
Place the dog on their right side on a firm surface.
Make sure the head and neck are aligned to create an open airway. Check to make sure the airway isn’t blocked with foreign matter. If you see something blocking the airway, clear it first.
Pull the tongue forward so it’s not falling back in the throat. You may need to use your shirt to hold onto it.
Put your face by the dog’s mouth and look, listen and feel for breathing.
If the dog isn’t breathing, give four to five rescue breaths right away, letting the lungs deflate in between breaths. For a larger dog, hold the snout closed and breathe through the nose. On a smaller dog, your mouth will naturally seal around their nose and mouth.
Breathe and watch the chest. It should slightly rise. Don’t overinflate the lungs.
Find your dog’s pulse either through the femoral artery, the place where the elbow meets the chest or on their wrist. See the video below for more detailed explanation on finding the pulse.
If you can’t get a pulse, put the dog’s elbow against the chest to find the heart. It will be where the elbow touches the chest. Then, move the leg out of the way and give 30 chest compressions per cycle, just like you would do in human CPR.
After the 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths. Complete this cycle for about a minute, or four cycles, and then recheck for a heartbeat and breathing. Continue this until the dog recovers or you get to a veterinarian.
While it’s undoubtedly terrifying when your dog stops having a pulse, CPR can often revive many dogs. Keep in mind that ideally, you want to perform CPR while driving to the veterinary hospital.
More details on how to perform CPR on your dog are provided in this video.
FAQ
How long does toxic shock last in dogs?
Dogs with canine streptococcal toxic shock are healthy just hours before becoming gravely ill, similar to the condition in humans. Without prompt treatment, the dog’s condition quickly deteriorates and could die in as little as eight to twelve hours.
Can dog survive going into shock?
A dog suffering from shock has a life-threatening medical condition where there is insufficient blood flow to the body’s tissues, which can seriously harm organs. A dog in shock needs medical attention right away because shock can get worse quickly and even result in death.
How do I help my dog get out of shock?
Signs and Symptoms of Shock
Blue mucous membranes and a grey-blue hue to the skin (i e. they are cyanosed).