11:51 AM PDT on Monday, May 15, 2006

Compiled by KGW Staff

The following are tips for keeping your pets cool in hot weather provided courtesy of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association.

kgw.com photo

Dogs socialize at an off-leash area in a Portland park.

During the spring and summer, many of us will be spending more time outdoors with our pets and will be more likely to take our pets along on errands.

While interaction with your pet is important for its health and well-being, hot weather does pose risks for our animal friends. Keep your pets cool this summer with these helpful tips.

-- Never leave your pet unattended in a vehicle during warm days. Even when outside temperatures are a moderate 70 degrees, a car or truck cab can become a miniature greenhouse. The temperature inside a car can quickly climb to more than 110 degrees. Because dogs don’t perspire (they pant to take in cooler air), the distress of a hot car can make them panic, which only aggravates the problem.

Many cases of heatstroke happen when dogs are locked in cars with windows rolled up or cracked slightly. Heatstroke is life-threatening for animals. If not caught in its earliest stages, heatstroke can mean quick death for your pet.

-- Provide your pet with plenty of clean, cool drinking water. This is very important in order to avoid dehydration. However, do not let your dog drink a lot of water before, during or after exercise because a condition called gastric torsion or bloat may result.

A dog, especially a deep-chested breed like the German Shepherd, can die from bloat. Its stomach may swell and even rotate like a wringing towel, which cuts off blood supply through the stomach. Avoid exercising your pet during the midday summer heat.

Exercising your animal is important, but it is better to do so in the early morning or evening hours when the temperatures are lower. If you run with your dog, it is important to gradually build an exercise program that your dog can handle. Dogs can suffer from heatstroke if overworked.

If you notice your animal behaving in a peculiar way and suspect it may be suffering from heatstroke or bloat, contact your vet immediately.

-- Beware of exercising your dog on hot pavement. Because dogs don’t have tennis shoes, they need pad protection. Your dog can get damaged or blistered feet if it doesn’t have time to build up its food pads. Consider running on the roadside or grass.

-- Keep fleas in check. As temperatures rise, so does the flea population. Flea control is important for several reasons. Flea bites cause local skin irritation and swelling that may cause your pet discomfort. Some dogs and cats will develop an allergic reaction to flea bites.

This intense irritation may result in constant scratching, which can lead to hair loss or a bacterial skin infection know as “hot spots.” Fleas are also intermediate hosts for tapeworms and can transmit bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

Consult your veterinarian for the newest and most effective forms of flea control, such as monthly growth inhibitors and topical insecticides. Read labels before applying as products labeled for dogs only are not safe for cats.

With the proper precautions, you and your pet will enjoy a fun, comfortable, and healthy summer.