Common Causes:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\nA few of the most common causes for a pet to collapse include the following medical concerns:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n- \n
Cardiovascular concerns<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n\n- When the heart is not pumping effectively or efficiently enough to maintain adequate blood pressure and delivery of important molecules (such as oxygen) and nutrients (such as sugar), our pets\u2019 brains cannot function correctly, and they may lose consciousness.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Causes<\/strong>:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- Abnormal heart rhythm (fast, slow, or irregular)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Heart valve disease<\/span><\/li>\n
- Heart failure<\/span><\/li>\n
- Pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Blood loss (bleeding in the abdomen or <\/span>hemoabdomen<\/span>)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Pulmonary hypertension or systemic hypertension<\/span><\/span>\n
\n- If blood pressure through the lung<\/span>s<\/span> or <\/span>the entire <\/span>body <\/span>is too high<\/span>,<\/span> the<\/span>n<\/span> collapse<\/span> could occur due to the heart\u2019s inability to keep up with the needs of the <\/span>rest of the <\/span>body.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Two <\/span>non-<\/span>life-threatening causes of collapse are:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- Typically happens to Labrador dogs <\/span>under<\/span> three years o<\/span>ld<\/span>. <\/span>A<\/span> pet<\/span> will <\/span>suddenly become<\/span> very weak or unconscious in the middle of exercis<\/span>ing<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Vasovagal <\/span>C<\/span>ollapse (also known as neurocardiogenic collapse)\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- It occurs when the body essentially overreacts, causing your heart rate and blood pressure to suddenly drop.<\/span><\/li>\n
- A similar example in people is when they faint for a few seconds due to fear or pain.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Respiratory<\/h5>\n\n- Like<\/span> the<\/span> c<\/span>ardiovascular<\/span> system<\/span>, the respiratory system also play<\/span>s <\/span>an important ro<\/span>le<\/span> i<\/span>n <\/span>providi<\/span>ng<\/span> enough oxygen to the body.<\/span>\n
\n- Some c<\/span>auses lead to upper airway obstructions<\/span>, and it is the airway obstructions that cause the actual collapse. These<\/span> are <\/span>also <\/span>typically preceded by <\/span>difficulty<\/span> breathing, which gets progressively worse<\/span>:<\/span>\n
\n- Choking<\/span><\/li>\n
- Narrow upper airways (common in \u201csmush-faced\u201d dog breeds such as bulldogs and pugs)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Tracheal collapse<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Other <\/span>possible causes<\/span>:<\/span><\/span>\n
\n- Pneumonia<\/span><\/li>\n
- Pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Congestive heart failure (fluid in the lungs)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Severe inflammatory airway disease<\/span>, <\/span>such as bronchitis<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Shock<\/h5>\n\n- Types of shock <\/span>are typically organized into three categories:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- Cardiogenic Shock<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- The result of severe heart disease and <\/span>subsequent<\/span> failure<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Distributive Shock<\/span><\/span>\n
\n- Happens when the<\/span> body <\/span>is unable<\/span> to \u201cdistribute\u201d nutrients <\/span>via<\/span> blood flow\/pressure to the <\/span>rest of the <\/span>body<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- E<\/span>xamples<\/span>: Sepsis, heat stroke, and anaphylaxis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Hypovolemic Shock<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- Happens w<\/span>ith<\/span> sudden blood <\/span>or fluid <\/span>loss<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Example of blood loss: When a tumor on the spleen bleeds and causes <\/span>blood in the abdomen (<\/span>hemoabdomen<\/span>).<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- Example of fluid loss: When a dog or cat becomes dehydrated from severe vomiting or diarrhea.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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