It’s heating up out there! You can keep your pets safe this summer by following these tips:

Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh (and clean) water.
If outside, ensure your pet has plenty of available shade.
Don’t ‘over-exercise’ your pet.
Protect those paws! Concrete and asphalt surfaces get very hot. At 85° concrete feels like 105° and asphalt feels like 130°. Quick tip….if you can’t hold the back of your hand to the surface for 10 seconds - it’s too hot for their paws! Consider walking your pet in the grass or walking in the morning or evening when temps are cooler.
Don’t leave your pet in the car! Even with the windows cracked, the interior can heat up in minutes. Even with an outside temp of 70° outside, the interior can heat up to 89° in just 10 minutes!
Never leave your pets unsupervised around water.

Know how to recognize the symptoms of heat stroke in your dog. These symptoms in your dog might include excessive panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling, bright red gums, and a high heart rate.

If you suspect your dog has heatstroke, get them to a cool area (preferably inside) as soon as possible. Help them cool down by sponging or spraying their underside with cool (not cold) water or by blowing cool air on them. Contact your vet as soon as possible as heatstroke can lead to complications.