Companion animals are vulnerable to heat stroke during heatwaves, and household management decisions during extreme heat can mean the difference between life and death.
Heatwave management for companion animals requires advance preparation rather than emergency response. Knowing which of your animals are most vulnerable (brachycephalic dogs, small mammals), having cooling equipment ready before extreme temperatures arrive, and knowing the signs of heat stress and how to respond correctly save animal lives during extreme heat events. As heat waves become more frequent and intense, companion animal heatwave preparedness is a routine welfare responsibility. The distinction between cool and cold in cooling a heat-stressed animal is clinically important — cool water lowers temperature appropriately; cold water causes peripheral vasoconstriction that traps heat in the core.