Summer has just blasted onto the scene. It’s one of the best times of the year, but there are many perils you need to navigate.

Heat can sneak up on you. The most important thing you can do to combat it, for yourself and your pet, is hydration.

Sharing water with your pet while you are out is made easy with a wide range of portable bowls, from a cupped hand, to neat silicone, plastic or waterproof fabric collapsable bowls. If your bottle of water is to be shared, make sure you have lots for both of you.

If you want to take separate water, there are a lot of different portable waterers for pets. Starting with simple plastic bottles with flip out bowls, through stainless steel bottles with silicone slurpers, finding one that fits your style and pet can be a fun adventure.

Once you have hydration handled, it is good to look at the other dangers heat can bring.

Brachycephalic dogs (flat faced dog like bulldogs) are the most susceptible to the heat, because the way dogs “sweat” is by panting. With shorter mouths, they have less area to expel the heat. The Maple Grove Dog Park–Winnipeg Facebook page has some neat diagrams that explain it nicely. Most of these dogs shouldn’t be taken out on extreme heat days. Leia, our Frenchie, can’t go two houses down the street in the heat before she says “Mommy, home” by sitting down and refusing to walk any more.

Rey, on the other hand, our Lab, will run for hours regardless the heat. But if there is any water feature on the route, she will visit it. Which is great for beating the heat, but depending on the water source, can require an immediate visit to the tub when she gets home. Both love to lie with their bellies to the cold floor to cool off.

Evaporative cooling is an important part of keeping dogs cool while outside on hot days. With concerns about pathogens in natural water sources, letting dogs take a dip can be an issue. Wading pools, sprinklers or hoses can be used as safe water sources to keep cool, for people or pets.

There are also many accessories that can be used to take the place of the sweat glands we keep cool with that dogs do not have. From simple bandanas you can wet, to gel filled ones that retain water longer, to ones that can be frozen for even more effectiveness. There are also special vests or coats that are made of special materials that hold the water well and will last longer than just a wetted t-shirt.

For dogs that just want to sit in the sun and recharge their solar batteries, or sit out in the shade on the deck, there are cooling mats as well. These can be frozen, or just work on absorbing the heat into a cool gel or water bed.

Regardless how you want to keep your pet safe, beware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion. Signs of heat exhaustion in dogs include heavy panting, drooling, lethargy, restlessness, and bright red gums. Other symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing. If you think your dog is suffering from heat exhaustion, seek veterinary help. On the way, keep them shaded, and use cool, not cold or ice water to aid in cooling.

Summer is fun, but sometimes, when it is really hot, it’s just better to stay inside and not take the chance.