Develop your knowledge and understanding of malignant hyperthermia in dogs. This is a one-part course that can also be taken as part of the Canine hyperthermia course bundle.

This module looks at pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and outcomes of malignant hyperthermia in dogs, including:
Cause – malignant hyperthermia is caused by uncontrolled intracellular calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle, leading to sustained muscular contraction. This can be triggered by excitement, stress or a number of drugs, including anesthetic agents. In dogs an autosomal dominant mutation in the ryanodine receptor has been described.
Signs – hyperthermia secondary to sustained muscular contraction, leading to muscular stiffness, hypercapnia, tachycardia, tachypnea and possible seizures.
Diagnosis – PCR of DNA obtained by buccal swab or blood sampling or in vitro muscular contraction tests.
Treatment – cooling and symptomatic therapy. Dantrolene to block sarcoplasmic calcium release.
Prognosis – guarded but proportional to the severity of the hyperthermia. 

Support and Resources 
This online module includes an e-Book with content from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis followed by a quiz leading to a personalized certificate. Written by some of the world's leading veterinarians, ensuring accuracy and depth of content.

This course was written and peer reviewed by:

• Simon Platt
• Simon Tappin

CPD Hours
This module is worth approximately 30 minutes of CPD.