With summer on the horizon, you can expect temperatures to skyrocket and everyone to be looking for ways to enjoy the sunshine. As you plan your time off from work and school, you need to take into consideration the comfort and health of your canine. Since your dog cannot sweat, it is easier for your dog to overheat, which can lead to an unnecessary visit to the animal hospital. If you are worried how the heat will impact your canine, here are a few ways that you can keep your dog cool and safe.

Keep Your Dog Hydrated

One way that you can ensure that your dog remains happy, cool, and healthy during the summertime is to make certain that your pup has constant access to cool water. Make sure to check your dog's water bowl on a regular basis and offer an extra bowl if your dog spends a significant time outside.

Allow Your Dog to Play in a Kiddie Pool

If your pet enjoys spending hours on end chasing squirrels or sunbathing, you need to be vigilant and make sure that they are not panting excessively. If your dog loves water, you may want to consider investing in a plastic kiddie pool to fill up with cool water. In doing so, your canine will have some fun splashing around in the water while keeping from overheating.

Groom Your Dog

When your dog is covered in thick fur, you can bet that they are going to be incredibly uncomfortable on a hot and humid day. Therefore, you will want to take your dog to get groomed at the start of summer and on a regular basis throughout the season. You also want to check into flea and tick medication, since this is the prime time of year for these annoying pests.

Avoid Unnecessary Time in the Car

Taking your canine for a ride in a vehicle, regardless of the distance, can be fun. However, while en route, you should keep the windows down a bit or the air conditioning on so that your dog is able to relax and enjoy the breeze. Do your best to avoid making any unnecessary stops that will have your pet waiting in the car alone. Even with the windows cracked, the temperatures can increase quickly, which can endanger your pet's well-being.

Control the Home's Indoor Temperature

It is not uncommon for your air conditioning bills to skyrocket during the summertime, since additional energy is necessary to ensure comfortable temperatures inside the home. Keeping all of this in mind, you may be tempted to turn the AC off when you are not home in an effort to save some money. However, if you have pets that stay inside, you could be putting them in danger. Therefore, you will want to leave the air conditioner running, or at the very least keep the fans going. If you want to leave the AC off when you aren't at home, consider taking your pet to a boarding facility.

The aforementioned tips will help your dog have a safe, happy, and healthy summer. However, if a problem does arise, take your dog to the nearest pet hospital.