Summer is now in full swing giving dogs the most opportunity to play with their owners. Frisbees are flying, dog parks are crawling, and fetch is in open season. All of this fun with our dogs on hot summer days is great for owners and pets alike, but the heat can cause some problems like exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, and heat stroke, and humans are not the only ones at risk. Dogs are just as susceptible to the heat. Think what it would be like if you had thick hair all over your body. Take extra care of your puppy this summer by keeping them cool on hot days.

Dehydration is a simple problem to solve for humans or pets alike. The answer is water. Be certain that your dog drinks water regularly. Your dog needs unlimited access to cool drinking water. Keeping hydration is also the starting point for preventing several other heat related issues.

Heat exhaustion is common with dogs that are over exercised when it is hot or extremely humid. They are also more prone to exhaustion if they are overweight, stay outside with no shade, or suffer from lung or heart problems. The symptoms can even escalate to heat stroke, which can lead to death. There are several more specific things you can do as an owner, other than providing water, to prevent the possibility of heat exhaustion or stroke.

Especially in the summer time, try not to leave your dog in the car for any reason. Temperatures in automobiles can rise up to 120 degrees. Even if you are running an errand for a few minutes, think about leaving the air conditioner running, and if your dog spends most of its time outside in the back yard, make sure there is a cool shady spot all day long. If your dog regularly exercises with you, pay careful attention to its pace. Do not push the dog to run faster if it begins to fall behind, especially if this is uncharacteristic of your dog.

The two main cooling systems in dogs are located on their tongue and on their paws. For this reason, cool water to drink, and cool surfaces to stand and lay on can make all of the difference. Try not to force your pet to stand on sun-baked surfaces like cement, metal, or sand. Not only will this prevent them from cooling off, but it can also cause blisters on their paw pads.

Most owners never think about their dog getting sunburned, but dogs are very prone to burning on their noses, ears, and lips. The simplest solution for preventing sunburn is to keep your dog in the shade during the most heat intensive hours of the day, but if you need to be in the sun with your dog during those hours, a little sun block lotion will not hurt. A little on the nose and the ears will do the trick.

Summer is a time when pets and owners alike can stretch their legs and enjoy the great outdoors. Don't let the heat get you down. Instead, prevent any problems caused by the heat with a little extra planning and consideration. Your dog will love you for it, like they do everything else.