During the hot summer months, be sure to follow these health and safety tips for pets.

•Never leave a pet in the car, even for short periods of time and with the windows open. Though it may seem cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside a car to life-threatening levels in minutes. Since dogs don't sweat through the skin, they regulate body temperature by panting.

•Make sure pets have access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Just like people, pets will drink more in hot weather, and water can evaporate from bowls left in the heat. A children's plastic swimming pool with a few inches of clean water in the bottom can provide fresh drinking water as well as a place to cool down.

•Avoid exercise during the heat of the day. When it's warm out, keep walks to a reasonable pace and distance. Watch for signs of overexertion, such as excessive panting, drooling, weakness or bright red gums. Pets must acclimate to both exercise and heat, so start slow in the coolest part of the day.

•For pets with exposed skin or short hair, apply sunscreen before the animals spend time outdoors. Ear tips and noses are prone to sunburn, especially in dogs with light-colored hair.

•Cats sweat through the pads on their paws. To help cats cool down in hot weather, moisten their paws and forelegs. A light overall misting with cool water can also help, as well as placing slivers of ice in water bowls.

This article is provided by Banfield, The Pet Hospital.