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With the current hot temperatures, pet owners must focus on pet safety:

Shade and water are a must. Anytime your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun (a doghouse does not provide relief from heat) and plenty of fresh, cool water. Cool water is absorbed more quickly than warmed water in a bowl left exposed to sunlight.  Refresh the water bowl with cool water for the safety of the dog.  Heat stroke can be fatal for pets as well as people.

Limit exercise on hot days. Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. (Dog breeds with the “smushed” in nose cannot breathe well at all in hot weather. Be extremely careful with exercise or walking these dogs in hot weather.) On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws. If the pavement is too hot for you to stand on in your bare feet then it is too hot for your dog's paws. Do not take your dog for a “run” on a leash with you riding your bicycle!

Recognize the signs of heatstroke. In case of an emergency, it's important to be able to identify the symptoms of heat stress caused by exposure to extreme temperatures. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian immediately. Some signs of heatstroke are: heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness. If the animal shows symptoms of heatstroke, take steps immediately to gradually lower her body temperature and contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Heat build up inside a car or truck is dangerous! Have you noticed how hot it can get inside a car on a summer day — far hotter than it is outside? That's because a car acts like a greenhouse, trapping the sun's heat. A study by the Animal Protection Institute showed that even moderately warm temperatures outside can quickly lead to deadly temperatures inside a closed car. On an 82 degree day the temperature inside a truck or car, with the windows “cracked” open, can rise to 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes the temperature can be up to 120 deadly degrees. Having the windows “cracked” open seems to have basically no impact on the heat rising to unbearable temperatures. The Animal Protection Institute study compared an outside temperature of a shaded area with the inside of an automobile in three states: fully closed, with four windows cracked, and with two windows cracked. Inside temperatures were measured with an indoor/outdoor thermometer and an oven thermometer (both readings are given). The “Inside vehicle” readings are with a regular indoor/outdoor thermometer. The “Oven” readings are with an oven thermometer. All temperatures on the next page use the Fahrenheit scale. 4 windows closed on vehicle…

  4 windows “cracked” open …

  Two windows “cracked” open…

For more information about protecting your pets ( indoor and outdoor pets) contact your veterinarian. Check out these websites for information: newscientist.com mydogiscool.com hsus.org (Humane Society of the United States) aspca.org (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) phoenix.about.com/od/animvet/a/dogsheat.

Don't take your dog shopping when the temperature is above 70 degrees!!! Leave the dog at home when you go to the store or for a shopping trip. When you are at a shopping area parking lot please be alert for dogs, children, or elderly persons left in vehicles on days with temperatures of 75 degrees or more. Even with windows “cracked open” temperatures rise to very dangerous levels within as little as 10 minutes. If a citizen sees this situation where a child, person, or dog is left in a vehicle unattended and widows are closed a phone call to the Sheriff's Department or the City Police is strongly advised. Use your cell phone or go into a store to phone for help or to have a public announcement made… some stores have the equipment to do this. Have the model of the vehicle and the license number ready for getting help.

Please share this hot weather information with your family, friends, and neighbors!