Smoke exposure in dogs: 27 cases (1988-1997)
Drobatz, K.J.; Walker, L.M.; Hendricks, J.C.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 215(9): 1306-1311
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 10553443 Document Number: 506259
Medical records of 27 dogs exposed to smoke in residential fires between 1988 and 1997 were reviewed to evaluate clinical findings, prognostic variables and clinical course of disease. Time of year, signalment, interval from fire to arrival at veterinary hospital, duration of smoke exposure, clinical signs at the fire scene, physical examination findings, changes in respiratory tract signs, radiographic findings, hematologic and arterial blood gas analyses, initial treatment, clinical course and outcome were recorded. In the complicated group (11 dogs), 4 dogs died, 4 were killed and 3 had a complicated clinical course. Stupor or coma (8 of 17 dogs), coughing or gagging (6) and respiratory difficulties (6) were commonly observed at the fire scene. Substantial improvement was evident within 5 to 30 min after dogs were given supplemental oxygen at the fire scene. More severely affected dogs had a higher median packed cell volume (58%) than less severely affected dogs (50%). Most common thoracic radiographic findings were an alveolar (10 dogs) or an interstitial (3) pattern. It is concluded that dogs exposed to smoke can develop respiratory or neurological complications and that monitoring progression of respiratory problems on the day after the fire may provide indications about the severity of condition in each dog.