As summer heat intensifies across the country, keeping your pets cool should be at the top of your list of concerns. Year after year we hear of pets left in hot cars. What we don't commonly hear about are the countless dogs that suffer from heatstroke just playing in the yard.

The primary concern with the warmer weather is heatstroke. Some people refer to it as heat exhaustion, which is another name for mild heatstroke. According to peteducation.com, a dog experiences a mild heatstroke when the core body temperature is between 104-106 degrees (Fahrenheit). A sever heatstroke occurs at anything over 106 degrees.

Know the Symptoms

While working to keep your pets cool is the primary form of prevention and treatment, knowing the symptoms is extremely critical in getting your pet the treatment necessary if he or she experiences a heatstroke. The symptoms to watch for include:

• Rapid Panting

• Bright Red Tongue

• Red or pale gums

• Thick, sticky saliva

• Depression

• Weakness

• Dizziness

• Vomiting – sometimes with blood

• Diarrhea

If your dog starts exhibiting any of these symptoms, seek veterinary care immediately. Also work to slowly bring down the body temperature by offering cool liquids, and bringing them into a cooler environment.

WARNING: do not pack ice around your pet, give extremely cold drinks, or bring from the excessive heat into an excessively cool building. Doing so could cause your pet to go into shock.

Know the Prevention

Preventing heat exhaustion is much easier than treating it. Here are some things to consider this summer:

• Provide access to fresh water at all times. If you have an outside dish, be sure to either use a water circulator or refresh the water every 2-3 hours to prevent it from warming excessively or building harmful bacteria.

• NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET IN A PARKED CAR.{..even with the windows cracked. Temperatures in a car on a sunny day can quickly approach and exceed 140 degrees which can be extremely harmful to your pet.|Even with the windows cracked open, temperatures can quickly exceed 140 degrees on a sunny day. This can be lethal to an animal after only a few minutes."

• For outside dogs, provide access to shade during the most intense part of the day.

• Move your exercise routine to less heat intensive hours or reduce simply your routine.

• Soak your dog with the hose. Aside from being good fun for you, the dog and the kids, this is a great way to keep core body temperatures down.

• {Consider taking your dog to a doggie daycare when it's excessively hot. Not only will they have water and shade, but when it's not too hot, they'll have opportunity to play with other dogs while staff keep a watchful eye.|Leverage a high quality doggie daycare, where your companion will not only have the critical physical needs met, but also have fun while having a watchful eye looking out for danger signs."

Here's to a safe and happy summer!