How To Prevent Your Pets From Getting Overheated

Never leave a pet in a parked car when it’s hot—not even for a few minutes. Even a car parked in the shade can go from an inside temperature of 80 degrees to over 120 degrees within five minutes—and leaving the windows down doesn’t help.

Brush cats and dogs at least every other day. When their fur is matted, it traps body heat. You can give them a shorter haircut for the summer—but don’t shave them to the skin, or they won’t have any protection from the sun.

Rub some aloe vera gel or vitamin E oil onto their paws a few times a week. It prevents the footpad cracks that make them more vulnerable to burns when they walk on hot pavement—although you should try to walk them on grass when possible.

Keep their water bowl full and add a little water to their food for further protection against dehydration.

Spritz your pets’ ears and paws with a spray bottle filled with cold water; that’s where they release heat. Or rub their tummies with an ice pack.

If your dog is panting a lot, rub some honey on his gums; it will help prevent heat stroke by raising his blood sugar.

Make ice cubes out of diluted chicken broth and add them to your pets’ water bowls. The flavor will entice them to drink more, and the ice will keep the water cool. Or give them a cube to chew or lick instead of a treat.

If your pets are going to be outside in the hot sun, make sure there’s some shade available, like a tree in your yard or an umbrella at the pool.

If your pets have glazed eyes, labored breathing, and/or purple tongues, splash them with water and call the vet; they could be going into heat exhaustion.