Ten tips for keeping your dog or cat cool this summer.

Ten tips for keeping your dog or cat cool this summer — we all know the obvious ones: don’t leave them in the car, provide shade and give them plenty of water. Here are ten others that you might not be aware of.

Because dogs cool from the bottom up, spray your dog’s paws and stomach with water, not just his back and head. You also can let him lie on a wet towel.
Use doggie boots. Heat rises from the ground, and dogs absorb and release heat through their feet, and doggie boots will help prevent them from absorbing the heat.
Trimming your dog or cat’s fur does not keep him cooler. Your pet’s coat actually helps protect him from overheating and sunburn.
When it’s hot, your dog may dig an area to rest in. She is doing this to create a cooler area, so let her dig, preferably in the shade (this is what my dog, Homer, has done in the photo above.)
Make sure your pet has access to bare floors, which are much cooler than the carpet.
Keep their water cool and refreshed. We don’t like drinking warm water in the hotter weather and neither do they.
Put an air conditioner or fan in their favorite spot.
Exercise your dog early in the morning or later in the evening as these are the coolest parts of the day. Or take her swimming. These are great choices for people in the hotter weather, too.
Dogs don’t sweat; they cool off by panting. An overheated dog will drool excessively, so this is a sign that your dog is overheated. See the graphic below from www.dogvacay.com, which shows the ten signs of a dehydrated dog.
Certain breeds, especially those with flat faces, such as Pugs and Persian cats, can’t pant as effectively as other breeds and are more susceptible to heat stroke, so use extra caution if you have one of these breeds.

Sources: www.cesarsway.com, www.petmd.com

Ellen Zangla Photography—Specializing in pets and the people who love them.

Professional Photographers of America: 2015 Silver Medal Photographer of the Year