13/01/2026
*TRIGGER WARNING: Sentisive content*
Communicating with you is a very important and valuable part of the life of our clinic. We often use this page to share stories about success and recovery, to help everyone learn valuable information and skills about emergencies affecting their animals.
For us, the core of the engaging online community that we love and respect so much is honesty. We do not make things up; we talk about our team’s experiences with sincerity and transparency to show you the real life of an ECC clinic. Heartbreakingly, this means that our reality and daily life are not always about rescue and recovery. Very often, they are filled with sadness and heartbreak. And the scariest one of all - death.
Last week’s heatwave was extremely challenging for our team, as well as for our clients. Extreme weather conditions lead to many emotional, intense, and hard-to-manage situations. One of those is the patient in the photo, they sadly did not go back home. For their family, our clinic became a place of sorrow, grief, and trauma. Even with all the knowledge our team had, all the support we offered, and all the efforts this family put in for their animal, we could not change the outcome for this patient. They did not go back home, no matter how much everyone tried.
We must be honest. Veterinary medicine (or any medicine, for that matter) is not an ultimate solution or guarantee of survival. Reversing the damage that nature has done is not always possible. We are talking about this very sensitive topic to educate as many people as we can, to help change outcomes and to keep families together.
Our message to you: Please access reliable and truthful information to help keep your pets safe. Especially during harsh Australian summers that bring many dangers. Extreme temperatures can lead to heatstroke in very short time frames, in some cases resulting in death within 15 minutes of exposure. And don't confuse heatstroke with how we sometimes describe it ourselves when being in the garden for a little longer than usual. It's not a mild sunburn and some thirst. Heatstroke is a serious and life-threatening disease process. It involves organ failure and your pet's body overheating to catastrophic levels (often very fast) as they struggle to cool themselves quickly enough. Please do not leave your animals outside during heatwaves, or unattended in cars or garages. They need to be kept in well-ventilated environments with access to plenty of water. Do not exercise your pets during the hottest parts of the day. If you have done this for many years, now is the time to stop.
Early symptoms of heat exposure can include:
High body temperature
Restlessness or agitation
Excessive panting or difficulty breathing
Drooling, often with very thick saliva
Changes in gum colour (dark red, pale, purple, or blue)
As the condition worsens, signs and symptoms may progress to include:
Vomiting or diarrhoea (possibly with blood)
Increased heart rate
Lethargy or collapse
Dizziness (are they struggling to walk in a straight line?)
Muscle tremors
Seizures
Unconsciousness
Be proactive in learning new skills and educating yourself to help your pets before they need us to help them. You can also leave out a shallow dish of water for our wildlife who are suffering as well. By adding a rock or branch, smaller animals and insects can also have a much needed drink.
Stay safe, and please share this information. Summer is far from over.
P.S. One of the core values of our clinic is teaching and learning without judgement. We truly believe that knowledge should be used for good. That is why we share this sensitive information - to help prevent possible tragedies in the future. The family of this patient did everything they could to help their most loved pet, but despite their best efforts, the outcome could not be changed. Not because they did not try, but because medicine is not almighty. We truly appreciate and are deeply grateful for the support, kindness, and love our online community should show this family during such a difficult for them time.
