7 things you can do to protect your dog in the summer

1. Never, ever leave your dog in the car;
2. Make sure your dog has unlimited access to fresh  water;
3. Make sure your dog has access to shade when outside;
4. Take walks during the cooler hours of the day;
5. When walking, try to stay off of hot surfaces (like  asphalt) because it can burn your dog's paws;
6. If you think it's hot outside, it's even hotter for your  pet – make sure your pet has a means of cooling off;
 7. Keep your dog free of external parasites (fleas,  ticks) and heartworms – consult your veterinarian  about the best product for your pet;

Additional considerations for warm weather running

Have you ever run in a fur coat? Your dog is doing it every time they run, so if you're feeling warm, your dog is feeling much warmer. Most importantly, dogs don't have the same cooling mechanisms we do - a dog's primary method of cooling is panting, and it's not as efficient as sweating. (Although dogs do have some sweat glands in their paw pads, they play little to no role in cooling off your dog, and certainly will not help when your dog is overheating.) Running with your dog during the hottest parts of the day is a recipe for potentially deadly heatstroke.

To read more visit the article source at "Run,Spot, Run"

Courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association