Cool Canines

When exercising with your dog:

• Choose early morning or late evening. Even after the air has cooled in the evening, pavement can still be dangerously hot. Check your dog's pads for blistering.

• Take along a water bottle for your dog.

• Freeze a wet bandana and take it with you when you run or walk. Tie it loosely around your dog's neck afterward.

• Watch your dog closely for signs of overheating, and if it has any symptoms, stop your activity and take measures to cool it down.

Signs that your dog is overheated:

• heavy panting and drooling

• damp pads on feet from sweating

If your dog shows signs of being overheated, try the following:

• Put him or her in water or wet down with a hose.

• If you are still having trouble cooling him or her down after about an hour and a half, wet a cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe off the foot pads. Be sure there are no cuts or blistered skin on its pads before applying alcohol.

If your dog will be left outside for the day, do the following:

• Set out a flip-proof water dish. You can make your own by driving a wooden dowel into the ground and sliding an angel-food pan or Bundt pan over the dowel (figure A). Fill the pan with ice before you leave in the morning.

• Use a watering device that fits over your outdoor faucet (figure B). Although you turn on the water ahead of time, it won't come out until your dog activates it. Train him or her to drink from the device by spreading peanut butter or honey on it (figure C). When it is licked, the water is released.

Dr. Werber offers these additional tips:

• Dress your dog in booties to protect its feet from hot pavement in the summer and salt in the winter.

• If your dog's paws do get blistered, soothe them with ice and triple-antibiotic ointment.

• Never leave your dog in a parked car. In just 10 to 15 minutes the temperature in a car can reach 120 degrees.