Low Temperature Damage

• Prolonged cold can cause ice crystal formation and vascular injury resultic in damage to tissue due to increased intracellular salt concentration
• Slow chilling can cause vasoconstriction, cellular damage -> secondary vasodilation and increased permeability -> oedema
• Severe and persistent cold causes vasoconstriction, increase in blood viscosity and tissue anoxia
• Lesions may occur in wet or hypoglycaemic neonates or animals recently moved from warm to cold environment
• Areas affected are extremities
• Lesions consist of gangrene and necrotic tissue