May 24, 2008 - There are precautions that need to be made in order to keep your dog safe during hot weather.  Just like humans, we have to be aware of dogs becoming dehydrated and/or suffering from a heat stroke.  Here are a few safety measures to keep in mind:

• Make sure your dog has plenty of cool water available
• When it really hot out, it's recommended to keep a few ice cubes in the water bowl to keep the water cool for your dog
• Never leave your dog in a closed vehicle on a hot day, not even with the window cracked open a little - When it's hot outside, it's easy for the car to heat up to at least about 90 degrees in as little as 5 minutes
• Be aware of heat stroke symptoms such as: panting, dehydration, failure to respond to commands, rapid heartbeat, etc. - if your dog shows these signs, they need medical attention
• Just because it's hot out, don't soak your dog into cold water - it can cause your dog to get hypothermia from making their temperature drop so quickly
• Learn about the different houseplants that can be poisonous to dogs

Source: "Don't let pets suffer in heat; take precautions to keep them safe", CurrentArgus.com