Across the country, temperatures reached dangerous heights this weekend. This heat, along with extreme humidity, has made for an unbearable heat wave that won’t let up for at least a few more days.

Whether you’re seeking refuge from this unrelenting heat, or looking to enjoy some summertime activities, it’s imperative that you’re mindful of your pet and their needs, too. Heat-related illnesses and even fatalities are some of the most tragic, yet preventable fates we at Friends of Animals see innocent pets face year after year.

If you’re hot, just imagine how your pet is feeling—they’re not able to tell us when it’s time to cool off. Dogs, for example, pant to cool off; but when facing extreme heat and humidity, panting simply isn’t enough.

Paws off Pavement

And if you’re feeling okay enough to take your dog for a walk, take a pause to consider their paws—the pavement can be anywhere from 30 to 60 degrees hotter than the air on a sunny day, and can easily burn paws. A good rule of thumb is if you can’t hold your hand to the pavement for more than a few seconds, then it’s too hot for your dog to walk. Beaches, too, can be too hot for their pads.

Don’t Park Your Pup

The pavement isn’t the only thing baking in the summer sun. Your car, even with windows cracked, is sweltering. On a 95-degree day, the interior of the car can exceed 129 degrees after just 30 minutes in the sun.

Even the quickest of errands can turn deadly for dogs in cars—they can suffer heatstroke after just a few minutes, even with the windows cracked. If you wouldn’t sit in your car on a hot summer day, your dog shouldn’t either.

While some EV’s have a climate control mode activated when parked, many others shut off automatically or switch to a power saving mode, silently cutting air conditioning without the driver knowing it.

If you see a pet left in a hot car, call 9-1-1 or animal control immediately. There are even 11 states where it’s legal to break a car window if you see a dog trapped in a hot car—use this link to see if you’re in one of them: https://www.dogingtonpost.com/dogs-in-hot-cars-what-is-your-states-law/.

Cooling Carefully

“If a dog begins panting heavily with her sides heaving, or if her tongue is turning a deep red or purple, cool the dog right away by dousing with cool water,” said Priscilla Feral, FoA’s President, when asked if she had any summer pet care tips.

“Feed her ice cubes, but never unlimited water—an overheated dog can easily drink itself to death.”

Giving your dog too much water, too quickly can be dangerous. Instead, focus on gradually cooling them down with shade, wet towels, a fan and access to ice cubes or small sips of water.

Keep It Cool

Here are some more tips to help your pet beat the heat:

• Walk early in the morning or after sunset, when it’s cooler.
• Limit outdoor activity for your pet, in general.
• Know the signs of heat stress in pets, including excessive panting, drooling, weakness or even collapse.
• Make pet-safe frozen treats. You can use peanut butter and bananas!
• Always ensure pets have fresh, cool water.