Losing A Pet From Heat Stroke: My Story

Today I have a painful personal story to tell, but I am sharing it in hopes that it will help save animals' lives.


Last July, a tragic accident ended the life of our dear cat Quan Yin.  She had her own room in our house because as a former feral, that was how she felt safe.  On a day of very high temperatures, we didn't want her to get too hot, even though the air conditioner unit was a room away.  We positioned fans drawing cool air into her room, provided a giant water bowl with added ice cubes, and I checked on her frequently to make sure she was comfortable.  If it grew too hot in her room, we planned to move her to the main air conditioned room, even though she might be stressed leaving her regular space.

All day I checked on her and everything seemed fine.  In the early evening, my partner called me as asked if I wanted to go out for dinner.  I said yes, but we couldn't stay out for very long, because we had to keep an eye on our animals.  We were out less than an hour.


But, during that brief period, our air conditioner stopped working. It may have been that a local power surge or brown-out tripped the surge protector, or the unit, which was old, had a failure that fed back to the power strip. Sadly, by the time we got home, Quan Yin was in the last stages of heat stroke, and despite springing into immediate emergency action, we could not save her.  We were lucky that our other cat, Maurice, had been close to the air conditioner when it failed, and the area around him remained cool enough that he was alright.  Distraught and concerned, we found a local hotel that accepted pets and booked a room right away.  We stayed in that air-conditioned room for several days, until the heat wave passed, and we knew we could fix the situation at home.


If you are someone who has experienced something like this, you know the devastation and feelings of guilt that follow, even if you could not have predicted the confluence of terrible events.  If you have not seen an animal with heat stroke, consider yourself fortunate.  I had seen animals with its terrible symptoms before in veterinary practice, but seeing my own pet die from this condition when I had been vigilant about checking her up until less than an hour before her death was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through.


So, as summer temperatures rise, please take my advice and do not trust completely in your air conditioning to keep your pet cool.  Think about taking these simple steps:

• Provide lots of clean water with ice cubes, and get your pet used to ice cubes in his/her water beforehand
• If your pet tends to spill out their water, consider getting an automatic pet waterer 
• Make sure shades or curtains are closed on windows, as any amount of sunlight coming in can heat a room rapidly
• Consider buying a cooling mat for your pet's pet bed, or a complete cooling bed. Dogs may even adjust to wearing a cooling vest or collar. These products often contain water or a gel that you put in your freezer
• If you have a cooling mat, make sure the cooling pack is prepared and frozen at all times (get two, if you can,) and attract your pet to the mat with treats or catnip before it gets hot, so she/he will understand it keeps them cool and lie on it when neccessary
• Depending on your living space, if you do not have central air, consider positioning more than one air conditioner so their cooling radii overlap
• If you feel your home is too hot or your pet displays any signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, move them to a cooler space immediately. Basements and lower floors are often cooler than higher up, and your local vet or shelter may be able to help you find a place to house your pet that is safe until you stabilize the temperature inside
• Keep a thermometer on hand, and learn how to take your pet's temperature

Also, please be sure to know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and what to do if your animal presents these signs:

• body temperatures of 104-110F degrees
• excessive panting
• dark or bright red tongue and gums
• sticky or dry tongue and gums
• glazed or staring eyes
• vocalizing in distress
• staggering
• stupor
• seizures
• bloody diarrhea or vomiting
• coma
• death

If you suspect heat stroke in your pet, seek veterinary attention immediately!  In the meantime:

• Get your pet out of the heat
• Use cool water, not ice water, to cool your pet. (Very cold water will cause constriction of the blood vessels and impede cooling)
• Put cool wet cloths on your animal's feet and around his/her head
• Offer ice cubes for the animal to lick on until you can reach your veterinarian, but do not force ice or water to your pet
• Do not aid body cooling below 103 F degrees - some animals ody temperatures can drop until they are too cold
• Remember, even if your pet is cooled by these measures and appears okay, internal injuries can occur with heatstroke, and you should still take him or her to a vet right away

Finally, remind yourself that if it feels hot to you, your furry pet feels hot (and they can't sweat all over like you do.) In case you don't know, never let your pet remain in a closed in a turned off car (even with the windows slightly open, cars can heat to dangerous levels within minutes.)  Never leave your pet outside for long periods in the heat, and if it is only somewhat hot, provide them with shade and supply of water. If you are taking your dog for a walk in the heat, bring a portable bowl and water with you, and get back into a cool area quickly.

Likewise, if you ever see an animal exposed outside or locked in a car in the heat, do not turn away.  Try to find the owner and, if you are unable to do so quickly, call your local animal control department or police. They should be able to take the animal to a cooler place and identify the owner later.  Better to be safe than sorry!

I wish you and your animal friends a safe, healthy and fun summer, in memory of Quan Yin.