Spring and summer months are a great time for you and your dog to enjoy the outdoors. However, the spring and summer months can also present unique dangers and health risks for your dog. Here are some dog health care tips that will help ensure that your dog remains safe in the heat.

•    First and foremost make sure your dog is protected against parasites with a good heartworm preventative and flea/tick product. See our article on the products we recommend.

•    Monitor your dog's tolerance of the direct sun very closely. Never leave your dog out in the sun too long. Dogs can get sunburned just like people. Provide lots of shade for your pet. Dogs can become dehydrated in the sun; so provide plenty of cool, clean water. Just having shade and a bowl of water may not be enough in a severe heat wave. When the ambient temperature is very warm, the water dish doesn't have to be in the sun to heat the water up enough were a pet will not drink it. Add ice to your pet's water dish to keep water cooler longer. Secure the water dish to avoid an accidental spill. You may also want to consider adding another water bowl or two in your pet's area, just in case. If possible, have fresh "on demand" water available, such as a hose bib waterer. Setting up a sprinkler or drip hose works well for some animals. This keeps the water running and cool, allowing for a fresh water source on demand. For animals that love the water, an inexpensive child's pool or poly rubber water trough make excellent "on demand" swimming pools for pets. Caution is advised - make sure that the pets are able to use the pool without risk of drowning (puppies, children). If your pet must be outside, make sure that shade is available at all times. While home, be sure to check the area your pet is in - as the sun changes, is the shade still readily available? Older dogs and dogs with thick coats need special attention. Limit their exposure to the heat during hot summer days and exercise them in the morning or evening hours, when temperatures are cooler.

•    Make sure that your dog always wears a dog collar and current dog tags including your phone number. Safety dog collars, such as reflective collars and illuminated dog collars also can keep your dog safe.

•    Do not drive with your dog in the bed of your truck. It is extremely dangerous to drive a truck with a dog in the back. In fact, in many states it is illegal. Dogs can be injured from flying debris and can also be thrown from the pick-up bed during the ride. Dogs should always ride in the cab, preferably confined in a crate or by using a seat belt safety harness. Also, if you allow your dog to ride with his head sticking out of the window, it is inevitable that he will incur an eye injury from flying debris, etc.

•    Never leave a dog in a parked car. On a mild 73ºF day, the temperature inside a car can reach 120ºF in 30 minutes. On a 90ºF day, the interior of a vehicle can reach 160ºF in minutes. If you have errands to run, leave the dog at home.  The majority of cases we see involve pet owners who were "just running into the store for a minute".  Minutes turn into a half-hour, and suddenly the dog is in a life-threatening situation.

•    Be cautious on humid days. Humidity interferes with animals' ability to rid themselves of excess body heat. When we overheat we sweat, and when the sweat dries it takes excess heat with it. Our four-legged friends only perspire around their paws, which is not enough to cool the body. To rid themselves of excess heat, animals pant. Air moves through the nasal passages, which picks up excess heat from the body. As it is expelled through the mouth, the extra heat leaves along with it. Although this is a very efficient way to control body heat, it is severely limited in areas of high humidity or when the animal is in close quarters. Take it easy on pets that can't deal with the heat. Elderly, very young, and ill animals have a hard time regulating their body temperature, so make sure they stay cool and out of the sun on steamy summer days. Dogs with snub noses, such as Pekingese, pugs, and bulldogs, have a hard time staying cool because they can't pant efficiently, so they also need to stay out of the heat. Overweight dogs are also more prone to overheating, because their extra layers of fat act as insulation, which traps heat in their bodies and restricts their breathing capabilities.

•    Make sure your pet doesn't overexert herself. Though exercise is an important part of keeping your dog or cat at a healthy weight, which helps her body stay cool, overdoing it can cause her to overheat. Keep the walks to a gentle pace and make sure she has plenty of water. If she's panting a lot or seems exhausted, it's time to stop.

•    Keep an eye out for heatstroke. Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect your pet has heatstroke (see "Signs of Heatstroke,” below), you must act quickly and calmly. Have someone call a veterinarian immediately. In the meantime, lower the animal's body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body. Often the pet will respond after only a few minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is normal. With this in mind, remember that it is imperative to get the animal to a veterinarian immediately. Once your pet is in the veterinarian's care, treatment may include further cooling techniques, intravenous fluid therapy to counter shock, or medication to prevent or reverse brain damage. Even with emergency treatment, heatstroke can be fatal. The best cure is prevention.

Signs of Heatstroke

    • Panting

    • Staring

    • Anxious expression

    • Refusal to obey commands

    • Warm, dry skin

    • High fever

    • Rapid heartbeat

    • Vomiting

    • Collapse

With some forethought and planning, we can keep our pets cool during the summer heat and avoid heat-related emergencies, such as heatstroke. Stay cool!