This article was authored by a local high school student as part of Lookout’s Journalism Scholarship Challenge.
The opiate epidemic has been a hot topic since 1999. We can see the long-standing effects opiates have on the human body through research and data, yet we fail to comprehend the overlapping issues it causes for other species.
Some 75% of drug overdose rates for canines are caused by opiates specifically, and we have seen a 38% increase in these death rates in recent years. It is safe to say that canine drug overdose deaths are on the rise, and will continue to rise until we work to make a change.
This is where Dr. Terence Krentz comes into the picture. He graduated with his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 2008 from Western University of Health and Sciences. Dr. Krentz completed his board certification for Emergency and Critical Care in 2019 and is currently working at SAGE Veterinary Center in Campbell.
Krentz provides specialized information via his presentation of how the opiate epidemic takes its toll on all canines. This urgent need was brought to his attention when treating K9 officers of the Santa Clara Police Department.
“Search and rescue dogs are often at the primary point of exposure, search and seizure puts them at inherent risk,” says Krentz.
One of Krentz’s goals is to bring awareness to the danger that opiates pose to all family members, especially the often overlooked four-legged ones.
“Opiates primarily kill because they are a potent respiratory depressant, causing the victim overdosing to suffocate,” he explained. Not only do opiates take over important vital functions, they act within minutes.
Specific opiates such as fentanyl, heroin and oxycodone are the three main players surrounding canine overdose. Whether these drugs are stored in your home as prescription, or obtained illicitly, having these around is a concern and liability for your pets as well human family members.
How do I prepare for the possibility of my pet overdosing?
Krentz firmly believes that all animal owners should invest in naloxone for their home, especially if opiates are in the picture. He recommends take-home naloxone kits, which are easily accessible through the internet, as well as your local veterinary hospital. Naloxone is the primary antagonist for all opiates and is usually administered under the brand name Narcan.
Naloxone is used on animals in a way similar to the way it’s used on humans. You insert the nozzle into the snout, providing a direct pathway to the lungs and press down.
There are other ways to use naloxone such as auto-injectors and injectable naloxone; however, Narcan is the easiest and simplest way to save lives.
Krentz is pushing for more involvement within the community in order to make the majority of the population aware of the current state of opiate overdose in their treasured family pets.
Krentz hopes to focus his work with canines working in law enforcement agencies as well, as the largest increase in overdosing belongs to working law enforcement animal officers. This is due to the high exposure potential that these dogs inherently have. Krentz has made it clear that exposure for these canines specifically is deadly, which is why police stations should be implementing opiate overdose training.
Krentz has found that most canines that have been administered the appropriate dose of Narcan within the correct timeline after overdosing have no issue continuing their lives as normal.
Krentz treated canine officers of the Santa Clara Police Department. In light of the cases he treated, he has encouraged officers to prepare for overdoses on the field. Krentz would gladly be part of these civil service training should the local jurisdictions be interested.
Krentz hopes to continue spreading the word on how to save canine lives and decrease the risk of overdose for all household animals. In sharing this information with the public, his desire is to encourage readers to make responsible decisions for our animals. This is a learning experience for all of us who hope to save lives.
References/Resources: Images courtesy of google images. All information and data was pulled from Dr. Terence Krentz and his presentation of Canines and the opiate epidemic.