- Non-freezing injuries typically involve the extremities, occur despite the tissue not actually freezing, and are commonly due to prolonged cold exposure. In humans, common terms to describe these types of injuries are “chilblains” and “immersion foot” or “trench foot;” similar terms are not used in veterinary medicine.
- With non-freezing injuries, extremities (ear pinnae, paws, tail tip, scrotum) are exposed to cold temperatures above freezing for prolonged periods (>12 hours), causing intense erythema of the skin, pain, and pruritus. If skin is exposed to damp conditions or submerged and exposed to cold, tissue edema and maceration may also develop.
- Treatment of non-freezing cold injuries involves removing the MWD from the cold environment and passively warming the affected tissues slowly. Passive warming of non-freezing injuries can be accomplished by moving the MWD to a warm room (e.g., hospitalize, indoor facility) and gently wrapping the patient or affected body part in warm blankets or towels.