GLEN CARBON, Ill. – A Metro East pet owner is grieving and urging others to stay vigilant after her beloved dog tragically died from cardiac arrest after suspected fentanyl exposure.
Katie Kuehnel says her nine-year-old dog Max, a Cocker Spaniel and Terrier mix, died on Nov. 16 after a bizarre situation.
On that morning, she let Max run around her fenced backyard unsupervised. When she checked on him a short time later, she noticed something was wrong.
Max suddenly had difficulty moving around and was found with pale gums. He was rushed to an animal hospital, where he received immediate treatment. Despite several tests, procedures, and life-saving efforts, his condition did not show significant improvement in adequate time, and he was ultimately euthanized.
According to veterinary documents that Kuehnel shared with FOX 2, Max exhibited an unusually fast heart rate, difficulty breathing, and a decreased awareness of his surroundings. Documents also noted several episodes in which his heart rate would drop significantly and that he was unresponsive to certain medications.
While Max was hospitalized, Kuehnel informed staff about drug concerns in her neighborhood.
According to documents, the hospital staff had “ruled out all major suspects” as to what may have caused Max’s complications, but acknowledged “some sort of drug toxicity would possibly fit.”
FOX 2 recently reached out for clarification on the documents, but the animal hospital declined to comment.
While recalling Max’s situation, Kuehnel told FOX 2 that a wooden fence separates her backyard from the sidewalk. She recalled noticing a shirt that poked through a small gap in the fence and partially peeked into the backyard. She first noticed the shirt while leaving her house to rush Max to the animal hospital.
Kuehnel believes Max likely sniffed the shirt that went through the fence line and began showing unusual symptoms shortly after that, suspecting that the tragedy stemmed from traces of fentanyl on the shirt.
One day after Max was euthanized, Kuehnel took to social media to share an emotional plea to fellow pet owners.
“I would like to make all pet owners in the area aware of this increasing problem in our community and surrounding areas. Please keep a close eye on your fur babies and don’t let them (or yourself) touch any strange objects that shouldn’t be in your yard,” she said via Facebook.
According to a 2020 National Library of Medicine article, citing data from a comprehensive PLOS ONE journal study, around 5,200 cases of opioid exposure in the United States were reported to the Animal Poison Control Center between 2006 and 2014. That marks an average of around 600 cases similar to Max’s per year, based on data from the last time such figures were available.
Research also indicated that smaller dogs were at greater risk of drug poisoning due to their size and likeliness to be curious about their surroundings.
Kuehnel remembers Max as a friendly pet who enjoyed the company of others and traveling. She hopes her message will raise awareness about the dangers of drug exposure and help other pet owners avoid similar tragedies.