Just a few simple actions on your part can help protect your dog from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. First, never leave your dog in the car without the air conditioner running. Even a few minutes in the sun can send the interior temperature of a car (with windows open or closed) soaring to fatal temperatures. If you’re doing errands and know that you’ll be in and out of the vehicle, your safest option is to simply leave the dog at home. However, if you really must leave your dog in the car for even the shortest period of time, leave the air conditioner on.

Second, provide your dog with a shaded, well-ventilated resting area that will remain shaded at all times, regardless of the sun’s position. You may have to move the dog’s shade throughout the day in order to achieve this. Of course, during the most excruciating heat of the day, the ideal place for your dog is an air conditioned structure.

Third, make sure that your dog has unhindered access to cool, clean water. You’ll want to place the water in a shaded area so that it does not heat up as a result of direct sunlight. Change the water often, as stagnant water can harbor bacteria and insects that are harmful to a dog’s digestive system. When traveling, make sure that you have a water dish and fresh water (figure on one gallon per day) on hand at all times. If your dog spends all day outside, provide him with a small, shaded wading pool filled with water. Your dog can cool himself off throughout the day by jumping in and out of it. Make sure, however, that the pool is in the same, consistently shaded area as the drinking water.

Fourth, avoid any situation that would force your dog to stand on a sun-baked surface for any length of time. Such surfaces include truck beds, sidewalks, streets and beach sand. The heat can not only burn your dog’s skin, but can also prevent your dog from efficiently expelling heat from his body. If you must walk your dog in the heat of the day, walk him on a grassy area.

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