Tips to keep pets cool

Now that we’re well into the heat and humidity of summer, it’s important to make sure our pets are well taken care of and that the risk of heat injury is minimized.

Just like their owners, pets can fall victim to heat exhaustion or heat stroke — especially pets that are left in the car while their owners go shopping, and pets that live in homes without air conditioning. Dogs and cats also risk burning the bottoms of their paws on hot sidewalks. They are even more vulnerable because they can’t always tell us how they’re feeling.

•Have a dish of clean, cool water available at all times for pets (throw in a few ice cubes for good measure). Place bedding in a cool, shaded place for afternoon naps. Check on your pet regularly to make sure it’s not showing symptoms of heat injury.

•Dogs and cats pant rather than sweat to get rid of excess body heat, but if yours is panting more rapidly than usual, look at it closely. If it has a bright red tongue and thick, sticky saliva, seems lethargic, dizzy or weak, and/or vomits or has diarrhea, act quickly to lower your pet’s temperature. Run cool water from the garden hose over your big dog, or place small dogs or cats into a sink or tub filled with cold water. Then, move your pet to a cool area to rest, with a bowl of drinking water nearby, and call your veterinarian for further advice.

•Walking dogs on a hot sidewalk or street presents the risk of burning the soft pads on the bottom of their paws. During the summer, take pets out in the early morning or evening. Do a quick check of the sidewalk’s temperature by placing your fingertips or palm against the pavement (gingerly, as you could get burned, too). If it’s too hot for you, it’s definitely too hot for your pet.