How To Keep Your Pets Safe During The Summer Heat

LONG ISLAND, NY — Hot weather safety tips to ensure pets across Long Island — and the United States — stay cool this summer were issued by the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in a news release.

Hot weather can be dangerous for our furry friends, the SPCA warned.

"Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems that humans do in hot weather," it wrote. "These health concerns include overheating, dehydration and even sunburn. By taking some simple precautions, you can keep your companions healthy and happy in higher temperatures."

Here is the full list of tips to keep pets safe in the heat:

• Never leave your animal alone in a vehicle. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace.
• Limit exercise. Your pet may slow down when the weather heats up, so the best time for exercise is in the early morning or evening, but never when it's especially hot or humid.
• Take care not to let your dog stand on hot asphalt, his or her body can heat up quickly and his or her sensitive paw pads can easily burn.
• Never trim your pet's coat to the skin, which can rob your dog of his or her protection from the sun.
• Always provide plenty of shade and cool, clean water for animals kept outdoors. A properly constructed doghouse is a must if your dog lives outdoors.
• Bring your cat or dog inside during the hottest part of the day.
• Make sure your pet always wears a collar and identification tag.
• In Suffolk County, tethering a dog outside in temperatures over 90 degrees is against the law.
• If you see a dog in a HOT car, record information about the vehicle: make, model, color, license plate number. Alert the manager of the business. Call 911 or the Suffolk County SPCA. Stay with the dog until help arrives.

There are six signs of heatstroke in a dog:

• Rapid panting
• Weakness
• Bright red tongue
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Thick or sticky saliva

If your dog is showing signs of heatstroke, here is what to do:

1. Move dog into a cool area
2. Apply cool water all over the body
3. Apply cool towels to the dog's head, neck and chest
4. Give small drinks of cool water
5. Take your dog to the veterinarian ASAP