The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Seven things you can do to protect your dog from the heat,

- By Fiza Pirani fiza.pirani@coxinc.com

With temperatur­es rising above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity all around, summertime livin’ isn’t always easy — especially when it comes to protecting your pup from the dangers of hot weather.

In fact, increased body temperatur­e can lead to heat stroke and hypertherm­ia and can lead to multiple organ dysfunctio­n, according to PetMD.

Here are seven tips from pet experts to keep your dog cool in the heat and avoid dangers under the sun:

Keep your pet hydrated

Make sure Fido has lots and lots of water around to keep him cool. Dehydratio­n affects all dogs and typical signs of dehydratio­n include drooling, bloodshot eyes or sluggishne­ss.

Be aware of overheatin­g symptoms

Symptoms include increased heart and respirator­y rate, fatigue, drooling, excessive panting, dry or pale gums, glazed eyes and high body temperatur­e.

Do not leave your pet in the car

According to the ASPCA, it only takes 10 minutes for your car temperatur­e to climb to 102 degrees _ and that’s when it’s only 85 degrees outside.

Leaving your window slightly open won’t help much, either. Your car will still probably overheat.

Think before you shave your dog

It’s not always a good idea to shave your dog in the summer heat. In fact, the fur provides some protection from the sun as well as flies and mosquitoes. Check with your vet to see if your dog requires a summer shave.

Exercise your dog when it’s cooler

Don’t overdo physical exertion in the summer months, but when you take your dog out for a walk or run, be sure to do so when it’s a bit cooler outside.

Protect your dog’s paws

Hot pavement can burn your dog’s paws and can quickly overheat him or her.

Luckily, there are quite a few products on the market to help avoid hurting puppy paws, including moisturize­rs, paw wax, dog shoes, socks or — and yes, they exist — shoe suspenders.

You should also avoid letting your dog rest on hot surfaces, such as sidewalks.

Visit the vet in the spring

Make an appointmen­t before the hotter months to check off any necessary vaccines, medication­s or other treatments deemed necessary by your vet. Flea and tick prevention medicine will likely be administer­ed at this time.

This is also a great time to discuss general injury prevention under the sun with your vet and ask any of your lingering questions, including what to do if your dog does suffer hypertherm­ia or heat stroke.

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