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Summer heat is enjoyed by everyone but this may not apply to your furry companion. We have so many opportunities to cool down when the thermometer rises while our pets are somewhat trapped in their own bodies. For example the only way your dog has to attempt to cool down is by the sweat glands in his tongue and on his paw pads. All the panting in the world will not adjust his body heat if the heat outside is extreme. Here are a few ways of keeping pets safe in hot weather.

Car ride precautions

Assuming that your furry friend is your dog, which is the most common pet that may be outside during hot weather you, must be very vigilant in keeping his body at the right temperature. The best car ride for your pet in extreme heat is no car ride at all. If you absolutely have to take your dog with you when you go out there are precautions that should be taken. Make sure you have a sufficient amount of cold water with you. Take a towel and some ice if possible. Keep the air conditioning on in your car at all times and if you have to leave your car even for a few minutes, take your dog with you.

A dog's temperature should normally run around 102 degrees. Heat buildup in cars can reach 117 degrees (47 C) within thirty minutes. If you're in a predicament on your journey such as your car breaking down the water, ice and towel will keep your dog comfortable until you can get help. Soak the towel in ice water and have your dog lay on it. Pour some of the water over your dog's coat and give him cool water to drink. This should keep him from having heatstroke.

Not all dogs are the same

The amount of heat your dog can tolerate without running into problems depends on what type of dog you have. Heat builds up in your dog's body and along with panting it will disperse through the surface area of his skin. If you have a larger dog it has fewer surfaces to get rid of the heat buildup in his body especially those that have fat tummies. This applies to the shape of their face also. There are breeds that have flat faces which cause less chance of cooling down by panting. Heat places these types of dogs at higher risk for heatstroke.

Dogs coat can contribute to heatstroke

You may think that your dog has a heavy coat and that will protect him from the rays of the sun but this is far from the truth. A heavy coat will only hinder his body heat from escaping. If you get your dog's fur cut to about an inch from his skin it can help him tolerate the heat much better. Don't shave him down completely

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