The dog days of summer can be dangerous for your dog. Warm weather brings a lot of problems for dogs because their furry coats hold the heat. Left outside in the sun, dogs can suffer heat exhaustion or heatstroke. If you choose to clip your dog, keep in mind that shearing the hair close can leave your dog susceptible to sunburn.

Because dogs have no sweat glands distributed throughout their bodies, they are more susceptible to heat-related discomforts and must rely on panting or sweating by their footpads to deal with the heat and humidity. Like you, your dog will appreciate some help battling hot or humid weather.

To prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke, never leave your dog in a car in the summer heat. Your car is an oven. Temperatures can reach over 120 degrees, and cracking a window will not help.

If your dog stays outside in a dog house, make certain the house is placed in the shade. A dog house heated by the summer sun can be almost as deadly as a closed car. Cover the floor with cedar shavings to help retain the moisture in his skin.

When taking walks on very hot days consider these walks light exercise and go in the early morning or evening hours. Pavements get very hot and can burn your pet's paws. If the sidewalk is too hot for you to walk barefoot, it is too hot for your dog to walk on. Bring along water and make frequent water stops.

Allow your dog access to cooler rooms of the house, such as the basement, the garage, or a screened porch where there's a breeze. Keep your dog's water dish filled with cool, fresh water and place ice cubes in the water during the hottest periods of the day.