In the CAR:

• The inside of a parked car with the windows rolled up or even cracked can reach over 160 degrees in five minutes.
• Never leave your pet in the car without the motor on and the air conditioner running (and an adult staying with him).
• Your “quick trip” to the store can turn deadly for a pet if you get stuck in line or cannot find what you need. Leave Fido at home.
• If you are feeling the heat, your furry pet is feeling it worse. Signs of a heatstroke are: excessive panting, glazed eyes, immobility, and unresponsiveness.
• Immerse the heatstroke victim in cool (not cold) water to lower body temperature, and get the animal to a vet as soon as possible.

On the ROAD:

• Asphalt retains more heat than concrete or grass surfaces.
• Avoid walking your dog on hot asphalt. If it is too hot for your palm to rest on it for five seconds, it is too hot for the dog and will burn his pads.
• Walk the dog in the morning or late evening when the weather and the roads are cooler.
• Dogs are closer to the ground than we are, so that heat radiating upward from the road affects them more.
• Take enough water for the both of you, and hydrate often.
• Dogs do not know when to “say when” and will often overheat during play or other exercise. They need their humans to watch out for them and regulate their temperatures. Stop often and give the dog a chance to cool down, preferably in a shady spot.

OTHER SUMMER PRECAUTIONS:

• Before you shave a longhaired dog for the summer, check with your vet or a licensed groomer. Shaving can be counter productive in some cases, as the fur acts as an insulator from the heat and helps prevent sunburn.
• If your dog has access to a “human” pool, be sure he knows how to get out, or he could tire easily and drown. Teach him how to use the built-in stairs, and limit his activity in the water. Chlorine and sun can be damaging.
• Leave your pets home when you attend July 4th celebrations. Fireworks are frightening to pets and they can panic and escape.
• During fireworks celebrations, leave a radio or TV on in a darkened room for him and close all the windows securely.
• Make sure your pets have valid ID tags and microchips at all times, but especially before celebrations and vacations. These are times when they might slip out or escape.