High-rise syndrome in dogs: 81 cases (1985-1991)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Comparative Pathology
• Animal Trauma

Background:

• High-rise syndrome is a common cause of traumatic injury in urban pets.
• While well-documented in cats, canine high-rise syndrome is less understood.
• Understanding injury patterns is crucial for effective treatment protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the injuries sustained by dogs experiencing high-rise syndrome.
• To investigate the influence of fall height and landing surface on injury patterns.
• To compare injury profiles between dogs and cats with high-rise syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 81 dogs diagnosed with high-rise syndrome.
• Analysis of fall circumstances, including witnessed jumps versus accidental falls.
• Categorization of injuries based on affected body regions (face, thorax, extremities, spine).

Main Results:

• Dogs sustained a "triad" of injuries: facial, thoracic, and extremity trauma.
• Fall height significantly impacted injury type, with lower falls (<3 stories) causing more extremity fractures and higher falls leading to spinal injuries.
• Landing surface and cause of fall (jump vs. accidental) also influenced injury severity and distribution.
• Survival rate was high (98.8%), with most fatalities occurring due to unaddressed visceral trauma.

Conclusions:

• Canine high-rise syndrome presents with distinct injury patterns compared to felines.
• Initial management should focus on shock and thoracic trauma, with subsequent orthopedic and neurological evaluations.
• Prompt recognition and treatment of potential visceral trauma are critical for improving outcomes in severely affected dogs.