With the temperatures topping 100 lately, there are several precautions you need to take to keep your beloved pets cool and safe.

From the website livescience.com, this article lists seven basic 'stay cool' tips.

The first item listed is the one that is the most heart breaking. We have seen these animals locked in their owners' cars and trucks at the Mall or grocery store. More recently, there has been videos on YouTube of heroes smashing window and rescuing these poor pets. A 90 degree day can turn your car interior into a 160 oven in less than 10 minutes. Please don't leave your pets in the car.

Here are tips for keeping pets safe this summer:

  • Don't leave animals unattended in a parked car. On an 85-degree day, temperatures inside a parked car can reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes.
  • Try to bring pets inside, if possible. Don't leave them in sheds or garages,  because these structures can become very hot inside.
  • If you do need to leave your pets outside, make sure that they have plenty of cold water and shady spots in which to rest, such as under trees or tarps.
  • Be careful about taking your dog for a walk on a hot day. If you do walk your pet on a hot day, it's best to go in the early morning or evening. You should also walk your dog on grass, because hot asphalt can burn their paws.
  • Dog owners should be particularly careful about taking certain breeds out in the heat. Flat-faced dogs, such as Pugs and English Bulldogs, can overheat more easily because they can have trouble panting. And white-eared dogs may be at increased risk for skin cancer.
  • Put ice cubes in your pet's water, and keep the water out of the sun.
  • Items such as a cooling body wrap, vest or mat can also help keep your pet cool outside.

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