New Delhi, April 15 -- Every year the heat arrives earlier than expected. In Mumbai this time it came in March, and by April, we are experiencing the heat we usually brace for in May. If you feel it, your pet feels it far more, and often much sooner.

Heatstroke in pets is not dramatic. It follows patterns we see repeatedly. A slightly longer walk than usual, a delayed water refill, a quick car stop that stretches to 10 minutes, a balcony that heats up too fast. Most cases I see do not come from neglect. They come from underestimating how quickly things can escalate.

Dogs do not sweat the way we do. Their primary way of losing heat is through panting. When the surrounding air is warm, panting becomes inefficient, and instead of releasing...