The fun of summer can turn to tragedy if proper caution is not exerted by pet owners. Our pets are extremely vulnerable to the hot weather, so we must take extra care in watching out for them! Always provide fresh water. Always provide shade throughout the entire day. Always provide adequate ventilation to provide good air circulation in the summer. Never leave canned pet food outside as the heat will quickly spoil canned food. If you must leave your pet's food out, be sure it's dry so Fido or Kitty doesn't become sick. Always keep your pet well-groomed. Mark Nample, DVM & Karen Yates, DMV recommend that shaving your pets coat can make you pets more comfortable. This especially true for breeds that have heavy or long coats. Make sure that if your dog has light-colored skin that you leave the hair at least inch long to help protect against sunburn. Comb him to remove excess undercoat. Clean coat also helps prevent summer skin problems. Never leave your pet in a parked car. Click here for more info about cars in hot weather. Always keep a current license and I.D. Always exercise your pet in the cool of the day - early morning or late in the afternoon or early in the evening. Never let your dog walk on hot pavement which can burn paw pads. Never go on vacation and leave your pet in an empty house or tied up outside. Be sure to provide for his care and comfort when you plan a summer trip. Cats, dogs, birds and rabbits cannot sweat! Protect your pets from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. It can cause illness or brain damage. Signs of heatstroke are: rapid shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, very high body temperature, vomiting, collapse, and eventually, coma. Rabbits, cats, dogs, birds all need to be kept as cool as possible during the summer. Place the well-ventilated dog house or rabbit hutch in a breezy, shaded area. When it gets over 85 degrees, fill a two-liter soda bottle with water and freeze it (do not fill to the top so that there is room for expansion). Place the frozen bottle in the cage or somewhere that they can lay next to the bottle or play with the bottle. Always have extra soda bottles filled with water and frozen in the freezer. Plan ahead so you will have enough bottles when you need them for your animals. If, in spite of your care, the dog days of summer bring on twitching, rapid panting, barking, a wild "staring" expression, or a bluish-purple tongue, immerse the pet immediately in cold water or spray with the hose on the stomach, head, and groin. Let him lick an ice cube or ice cream but do not allow him to drink unlimited amounts of water. Then call your vet. Quick cooling may save your pet from death by heatstroke. Never walk your pet in an area that you suspect has been sprayed by insecticides and other chemicals. Dog poisoning, in particular, always increases considerably during the summer, when gardens, lawns, and trees are usually sprayed to control weeds, insects, and pests. Many of these chemicals can sicken or even kill animals, so keep your pet away from these areas. Always watch out for fleas and ticks that may infest your pet. Take him to the vet for a thorough summer check-up and use a good flea and tick repellent as recommended by your vet. Please leave your animals at home where they are content & secure.