cute pictures to go along with them. It's win-win!

Hey guys, Tara here for Dnews - and it is officially summer now, which means barbecues,

beaches, and yes - that dreaded summer heat. Most of us already know how to protect ourselves,

but what about our helpless little furry friends? They need protection just as much as we do

- so here are some tips to help your pet beat the heat.

First order of business - Never ever EVER leave your pets in a parked car. Ever. On

an 85 degree day, even with the windows cracked - the temperature inside of a car will reach

102 degrees F within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, 120 degrees F. That kind of heat

can cause irreversible organ damage, or death. So don't risk it.

You may also be inclined to think humidity will keep your pet cool - when in fact, the

opposite is true! Animals pant in order to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which

cools them down. But if the humidity is too high, they can't do that - so their body temperature

will skyrocket - quickly.

Limit their exercise, and watch out for sunburns. Believe it or not, animals are just as vulnerable

to UV rays as humans are. And that is especially true for pets with white fur, since the lack

of skin pigmentation makes them extremely sensitive to the sun. The shorter their hair

is, the more susceptible they are to being burned. So places on their body with the least

amount of fur - like around the face, or the underbelly, are where they're most likely

to get sunburned.

Some pets also have pre-existing conditions that can increase their skin sensitivity.

So things like parasitic infections, autoimmune disorders, or congenital hairlessness - should

all be taken into account.

Hairless pets are of course the most sensitive - so if you have one, and you know they're

gonna be out all day - try using either a waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of at least

30, or a sunblock that contains zinc oxide. You could also try pet clothing, like a t-shirt

or a hat, which in addition to being adorable - will also block some of the sun's rays.

Although dark-colored clothing will get very hot, so keep that in mind.

Also important to remember - that the ground gets extremely hot in the summer. So if YOU

wouldn't go walking around barefoot on the concrete, then your pet probably shouldn't

either. Keep em on the grass, and make sure they have a shady place to lie down. Doghouses

actually get hotter inside with the sun, so it's better to find a tree or some place with

airflow - and of course, make sure they have plenty of water.

The sun is at its hottest between 11a-2p, so the best thing you can do is minimize their

outdoor activity during those times. Fans don't work as well on pets as they do on humans

either - so really, it's better to just keep them inside.

If there's a chance your pet may ALREADY be sunburned, check its skin. If it's red, warm,

or flaking - take them out of the sun immediately, and apply a cool compress with ointments.

If it's a severe sunburn, then you may need to take your pet to the doctor. A vet can

prescribe a cortisone product to prevent inflammation, but in extreme cases - antibiotics may be

necessary to prevent infection.

Like anything else, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So it's best to

just prevent these situations before they happen. Frequent sunburns can give your pets

pre-cancerous conditions or even skin tumors, and once that happens - the affected skin

will have to be surgically removed. Don't let it come to that. You wanna protect your

pets, with the same dedication you'd give yourself.

As always, if you have questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to keep your pets

cool, leave em in the comments below. Otherwise, thanks for watching - and happy summer!