by Joseph C. Alkire

Created on: July 13, 2009

There are a few ways to keep out pets cool during the onslaught of summers' heat. The first thing to notice is that if it is too hot for us humans, it must be too hot for our pets. The difference between us and animals is that we can cool off a lot faster than they can.

We have one of God's greatest gifts of cooling off. A built in sweating mechanism which automatically kicks in when the temperature reaches too high. Unlike us, dogs cool off by panting When we stop sweating, we know that we need to drink because trouble is around the corner. When dogs stop panting or nothing is dripping from their mouths, dogs need to drink because trouble is around the corner as well. Both humans and dogs both suffer from heat exhaustion and stroke. No one likes to drink warm water including pets (unless you are a fish). Keep plenty of cool water around your dog. I have often put ice cubes in my dogs drinking water and she loved to chew on them as well.

When the dog is outside and it is hot, take a look where he is. Usually your pet will be in the shade. If the dog must be left outside all day long, make sure there is plenty of water and shade for your pet to rest comfortably in. Believe it or not, animals can get sun burned also. One must also be careful with dog houses because they can get hotter inside than out. If there are no shady areas around the house, it is better to leave your pet in a safe area inside. It's better to err on the side of caution.

If you are handy with electric clippers, try your haircutting talents on the dog. As long as the hair isn't cut too short, the dog won't care what he or she looks like. One thing is for sure, the pooch will feel a lot better.

If traveling is required, the best place for any pet is to be left home. If he must be left in the car, leave the windows open enough for the heat to escape without putting the dog at risk. Cracking the windows does very little to nothing as far as releasing heat. It only takes a few minutes to kill an animal inside a locked car with the windows closed. If at all possible, leave your pet home.

One of the best ways to cool off is by jumping into the family pool. Why not provide your pet with a little pool of its own. Our dog used to run around the yard and take a running jump into the pool. She would splash around the pool, bite the water when it splashed, and do the routine over and over again. When we were all done, everyone was refreshed, including the dog. An animal will never have to worry about heat stroke with an outside pool (made just for its size of course).

Lastly, if your pet is suffering from heat stroke or exhaustion, rush him to the vet immediately. Every minute counts as the body temperature of your pet rises. Take notice if your pet is listless, struggling to get up, or the saliva is not watery, but thick. If any of these signs are apparent, it would be better to take him to the vet than to treat him yourself.

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