I have heard this mentioned before: that small animals... or big ones too, I guess, when they are really, really scared that their hearts can burst from the rapid spike in adrenaline, blood pressure, etc. Is it true, or even somewhat true?
I know if a horse is pushed to the limit blood vessels can burst/rupture in their nostrils. I'm sure that can apply to other animals as well.
2007-02-19 17:35:32 · 11 answers · asked by still of the night 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
proberbly is true it can happen to humans too!
2007-02-19 17:43:17 · answer #1 · answered by witheringtonkeith 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Still of the night,
To answer your question, the heart of the animal doesn't burst. Horses, birds, rabbits are just a few animals that have a low tolerance for any kind of stress and frighten very easily. If their stress or fright level is pushed to the extreme the animal usually has a heart attack and passes away. Each individual animal is different in the way its body responds, but in some cases the animal can have a seizure and no heart attack. Chances for survival are slim but possible, or suffer both, the seizure followed then by the heart attack. I hope this helps answer you question.
Sincerely,
Alice H.
2007-02-19 18:17:13 · answer #2 · answered by Alice H. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the heart will actually burst. In small animals, like birds and rabbits, it will actually pop several blood vessels from so much blood causing it to 'burst' but the heart itself will not go off like a blackcat firework. There are several instances where racehorses, so bent on winning will work so hard that their lungs will strain, bleed, the blood comes out the nose, they don't get enough air, the heart swells, and bursts. I've seen several cats die of fright in my vet office, and pigs as well. The heart beats soooo fast that the veins cannot take the pressure and they burst, causing immediate death. Horses don't normally die of fright, they may pass out, but their hearts are so big and built for that stuff they either faint or run away.
2007-02-20 01:35:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is somewhat true. It depends how strong of heart they have. Anyone can have a heart attack if their heart rushes. A scare, cold chills, sudden change of body temperature, over eating and lots of other things can make the heart burst. Things like this just don't happen everyday
2007-02-19 17:47:50 · answer #4 · answered by Stars 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their heart doesn't exactly burst the vessels can but what actually happens is they suffer a massive cardiac arrest and the strain makes it appear as though an explosion has happened
2007-02-21 02:24:14 · answer #5 · answered by Bruce L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any animal with a heart can die of a heart attack or stroke caused by an adrenaline rush-- this is more of a threat if the temperature is high and the animal is overheated.
2007-02-19 17:58:55 · answer #6 · answered by mac 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Small aniamls, especially rabbits and even more so birds, are the ones that are most known for not handling stress well. They can literally be "scared to death." I'm not 100% sure on the actual processes that take place, but yes, they do die from fear.
2007-02-19 17:55:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suppose that this could happen to any animal, in theory, including humans.
But the farther your animal is down the food chain, the more likely this is. This is most often seen in rabbits, sometimes hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs. In other words, herbivores. Again, farther down the food chain.
2007-02-19 17:44:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it hasnt happend 2 my cat yet she has been completely petrified of humans and it happens alot but her heart hasnt burst so probably a myth i know thet if you squeeze a hamster something gory happens
2007-02-20 03:18:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can happen but under normal circumstances isn't likely to happen to your pet.
2007-02-20 14:32:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋