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As temperatures rise, it’s important to keep pets cool.

The following tips are from the Humane Society of the United States:

Never leave your pet in the car

Don’t put your pet in the back of a truck

Watch out for fertilizers and deadly plants

Recognizing the Signs of a Heat Stroke
Signs and symptoms of heat stroke include: collapse, body temperature 104° F or above, bloody diarrhea or vomit, depression stupor, seizures or coma, excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, salivation.

If you suspect heat stroke:

Get your dog out of direct heat

Check for shock

Take your dog’s temperature

Spray your dog with cool water then retake temperature

Place water – soaked towels on the dog’s head, neck, feet, chest and abdomen, turn on a fan and point it in your dog’s direction, rub Isopropyl alcohol (70%) on the dog’s foot pads to help cool him but don’t use large quantities as it can be toxic if ingested

Take your dog to the nearest veterinary hospital

During a heat crisis, the goal is always to decrease the dog’s body temperature to 103° F in the first 10-15 minutes. Once 103° F is reached, you must stop the cooling process because the body temperature will continue to decrease and can plummet dangerously low if you continue to cool the dog for too long.

Even if you successfully cool your pet down to 103° F in the first 10-15 minutes, you must take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible because consequences of heat stroke will not show up for hours or even days. Potential problems include abnormal heart rhythms, kidney failure, neurological problems and respiratory arrest.

Visit redcross.org for more information.