In the heat of summer, it’s important for people to remember that their four-legged friends are more susceptible to high temperatures than their two-legged ones.

With that in mind, Perry Humane Society President Breanna Morman offers some tips for keeping your pets cool this season. “It’s really hot and humid right now, so it’s really important to always have fresh, clean water available to your pets, and making sure that you are changing that daily or multiple times a day. It’s important to always have a place where pets can be in the shade (and) out of the sun. And it really is best to keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot. It’s also really important not to over exercise them in this heat.”

Morman adds, one thing you can use if you have animals that are primarily outdoors is to fill a kiddie pool with water, so they can drink or relax in it. She does emphasize you will need to change the water in the pool daily. If your pets start to get too hot, Morman says there are signs to watch out for, including: excessive panting or drooling, difficulty breathing, possible diarrhea and vomiting, and general lethargy. If your pet shows any symptoms of heat exhaustion, Morman encourages you to take them to the vet immediately.

To learn more about summer pet safety, listen to today’s Perry Fareway let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.