• Provide unrestricted access to plenty of fresh, cool water.
• Keep the house at a comfortable temperature.
• Provide shade when your pet is outdoors.
• Don't overexert your dog in play. (See 'Exercising Your Dog in the Heat' below.)

• Antifreeze: When car air conditioners are on, they may leak antifreeze. If you suspect your pet may have gotten into antifreeze, get it to a veterianrian immediately! By the time you see possible symptoms, your pet will be in serious trouble.
• Wounds: Rips, tears and holes in the skin are more common in the summer as pets are more active. Seek veterinary care quickly.
• Raw, Scraped Paw Pads: We often see this after a long hike, especially over rough terrain. A veterinarian should see this to assess the damage and treat appropriately.
• Smelly Ears: Dogs are swimming in the summer. If the interior of their ears don't dry out properly either smelly ears or ear infections can result. Cleaning your dogs ears with a drying cleaner such Otirinse on a regular basis after swimming can help to prevent smelly ears. If your pet seems painful or has a lot of debris in the ears, it could have an ear infection. Seek veterinary care.
• Bug Bites: To help prevent bug bites you can use DEET-free bug repellants on your dog. Spray on your dog's body especially where the hair is thinner on the adbomen. Apply to their face and head by spraying on your hand and wiping it onto your pet. Some of the monthly topical flea and tick control products also have some repellant properites against mosquitoes.

• Heavy panting
• Rapid pulse
• Vomiting
• Glazed eyes
• Staggering gait
• Deep red or purple tongue

If your pet becomes overheated, it is necessary to decrease his or her body temperature immediately. Move your pet into the shade and apply cool water all over the body. Call us immediately if you see the above signs. Prompt attention can save your pet's life!

As the temperature rises this summer, it is very important that your pet not be left in the car unattended for any length of time. The temperature inside a car can reach 120 degrees with in 10 minutes, even with windows partly open. Keep your pets safe from the dangers of heat stress.

Keeping your dog comfortable in the heat of summer can be challenging. Dogs do not sweat as humans do-instead, they cool themselves by panting. The warmer the temperatures and higher the humidity, the more difficult it becomes for dogs to stay cool. Here are a few tips for exercising your dog this summer:

1. Take walks in the early morning or evening when it is cooler.
2. Make sure your dog has plenty of water before and after exercise (and during, if you exercise for a long time).
3. Avoid jogging or bicycling unless your dog has been conditioned to these exercises-and, also, do them when it is cooler.
4. Don't push your dog-if it wants to rest, let it!
5. Provide shade and water breaks regularly.
6. Stop if your dog seems stressed or is showing any of the signs listed above. Find shade and water.
7. If your dog does not recover quickly after exercise, cool him or her by splashing cool (not cold) water on its legs and abdomen.
8. Remember, the arctic breeds (Samoyeds, Huskies, Malamutes), giant breeds (Newfies and St. Bernards), and short-faced breeds (Boxers, Pugs, Pekinese) are particularly sensitive to exercise-induced heat exhaustion.