It's too dog-gone hot!

Ah, summer, when a dog's thoughts focus more than ever on the great outdoors, and how to spend as much time there as possible. The living may be easy, but summertime can also be rife with pet hazards that range from dehydration to heatstroke to drowning.
The first rule of summer safety is to keep hydrated, so make clean water always available, and keep the toilet seat up and the bowl free of chemical sanitizers in case the supply runs out. Protect pets from the sun's blaze by providing ample shade, especially at midday (and don't tie dogs outside without shelter).

Avoid walking dogs on scorching pavement, and remember sidewalks can retain heat well into the evening. If conditions are steamy all day, don't bring Fido with you to an outdoor café; the pavement will be too hot for him to sit or lie down. Leave him at home in climate-controlled comfort, and bring him a doggie bag. Certain breeds, such as the St. Bernard, prefer wintry climates, so don't stint on air conditioning.

Two inventions that define summer — the swimming pool and the automobile — can be risky for pets. Never, ever leave any animal in a parked car (even with the windows open, it will become deadly hot in minutes), and prevent pets from drowning with Safety Turtle, a sensor that attaches to the animal's collar, linked to a wireless base station; if the pet falls into the water, an alarm sounds (also, "close" the pool when not in use with a sturdy cover by Looploc.com).
Examine your pet's coat several times daily for ticks; if you find one, stun the varmint with a drop of cold vodka (keep a bottle in the freezer), then remove it carefully with tweezers. Repel ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, and flies with nontoxic Herbal Gold Parasite Dust, which desiccates an insect's exoskeleton yet won't harm mammals (buckmountainbotanicals.com).

Another global summer hazard this month and next: flood season. Learn from experienced rescuers how to prepare yourself to save pets in the event of a natural disaster by visiting Muttshack.org (the online course is free).
By Julia Szabo