Quote Originally Posted by FrostyPaws View Post
Here's an interesting viewpoint:

Generalized trauma / Heat Stroke. There is no data supporting the use of GC in generalized trauma (i.e. hit by car, dog fights, etc.) or heat stroke. In fact GC may increase morbidity and mortality due to the numerous adverse effects. Supportive care such as crystalloids and colloids, pain management with opioids, and body temperature are the primary recommendations along with stabilization of blood loss and fractures. Antimicrobials may also be indicated.
It's funny, I was going to bring up a similar topic. There are different types of shock, so different (or, as you say, in some cases NO) cortico-steroids should be considered.

For septic shock, such as with pyometra, or abscess, etc. (which involves bacterial growth and therefore the need for immunity) it is widely held NOT to use any cortico-steroids, because they suppress the immune system as a side-effect.

Therefore, as you point out, some of this is all "spit-balling" so-to-say. I do believe, however, that for generalized trauma cortico-steroids are indicated. They create a sense of euphoria, first of all, and reduce swelling, secondly.

However, we as dogmen need to really analyze what has happened to our dogs, in order to properly-assess which cortico-steroids need to be used. There is both traumatic shock as well as hypo-volemic shock (as well as some degree of both) in a dogfight. There is simple, and absolute fatigue/heat stroke, etc.

So what do we use? Dex, Azium, etc.?

I am no expert, but my own belief is, if your dog was severely traumatized by a hard biter (with associated muscle swelling, etc.), then you should lean toward Solu-Medrol or Azium. If your dog is straight fatigued, or straight loss of blood from a bleeder (hypo-volemic), then Solu-Delta.

Maybe Frosty could comment/correct, but these are all considerations that we should be thinking of in our drug selection at the time ...

Jack