Warm Weather Pet Health Tips By Dr. Karen Halligan Horses sweat, men perspire, ladies dew and dogs pant.  Unlike humans, animals do not sweat. Instead, they lose heat through their tongues, noses and pads of their feet. Therefore, during the summer months they are susceptible to heatstroke from overheating. Certain types of animals are more prone than others. Dogs with flat faces like pugs or Boston terriers, dogs with heavy coats, older animals, and obese dogs and cats, rabbits and guinea pigs are all at an even greater risk for overheating during the summer months.
Below is a top 10 list of safety tips to keep your pet safe and cool this summer. - Always provide plenty of fresh water and make sure that if the water bowl is outside it is safely secured so it doesn't get tipped over and is in the shade.
- Pets can get sunburned, especially if they are white, so make sure they have plenty of shade outside.
- Apply a mix of equal parts of SPF 15 sun block and petroleum jelly to pets with pink noses before they go outside.
- Dogs' pads burn easily, so avoid hot surfaces like blacktop during the hottest part of the day.
- Before starting your walk, give the sidewalk a test with the palm of your hand. If it is too hot to touch, then it can burn your dog's footpads, and you should avoid this surface.
- To avoid overheating, exercise your pets either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Avoid exercising your pets between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. because this is the hottest time of the day.
- Fleas, mosquitoes and ticks love the summer, so make sure to protect your pet from these summer pests with safe products like Sentinel, Advantix, Frontline, or Revolution.
- Watch for signs of heatstroke such as excessive panting, red gums, dry to the touch gums, or disorientation. If you suspect heatstroke, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately.
- To cool down a pet that is overheating, apply cool water (not ice cold, which can cause shock) to their coat and pads and take them to the vet right away.
- Avoid taking your pet in the car during the summer months and NEVER leave a pet in a parked car. Even with the windows down, it only takes a few minutes for the temperatures to rise in excess of 150 degrees, which can cause stroke, brain damage or death.
<COPYRITE> Content provided by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles. For more information, visit spcaLA.com. 
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