If you live in Arizona, you don’t need us to tell you, it’s been HOT. This time of year, nearly every animal that comes through our clinic is treated for dehydration. Some cases are mild, while others are much more serious.
On Wednesday, we took in a young coyote rescued from Downtown Phoenix. She was severely dehydrated, underweight, and required immediate veterinary care. When she arrived at SWCC, her body temperature was a life-threatening 107 degrees. Her gums were pale and dry, her skin hot to the touch, textbook signs of heatstroke and severe dehydration. She was holding on for dear life.
Heatstroke is a true emergency. It occurs when the body produces more heat than it can get rid of, and just like in people, it has to be treated carefully. Cooling down an overheated animal too quickly can actually cause more harm than good, which is a tricky balance when time is of the essence.
Our vet clinic team sprang into action, starting IV fluids and using various cooling methods. The young coyote was in critical condition, and we were uncertain if she would survive.
Her bloodwork and intake exam showed what we expected: severe dehydration, but otherwise, she was a strong, healthy little coyote. That gave us hope, and we knew we had to give her our all.
Against all odds, she pulled through and is doing much better. She’s still on IV fluids and will be watched closely by our amazing vet team as she continues to recover and regains her strength. We’ll hopefully have more updates to come!
Every rescue, every recovery, every second chance is possible because of this community. Thank you to each person who believes in the value of every wild life.
July 2025