A Toronto veterinarian is reminding pet owners to keep their furry friends safe and cool in the summer months, saying "if it's too hot for you, it's probably too hot for your pet too."

The most common way dogs and cats become overheated is from pet owners leaving animals in cars, said Dr. Ian Sandler, a veterinarian at Toronto's Rosedale Animal Hospital.

York Regional Police in Toronto say they responded to at least four incidents of dogs being left alone in hot cars. Last week, a Vancouver police officer smashed a car's window to rescue two dogs suffering from the heat.

"Even with some of the windows open, the car really acts like a Dutch oven," Sandler said on CTV's Canada AM. "This kind of heat can be very severe and even critical."

When dogs and cats are overheated, they pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs and take the heat away from their body, according to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

But when the humidity is too high, the pets are unable to cool themselves, the OSPCA said.

Sandler recommends that pet owners leave their dog or cat at home when running errands. But it's also important to keep them cool throughout the day as temperatures reach 30 degrees Celsius, he said.

"When it's +30 degrees outside, it's no different than when it's -30," Sandler said. "Even if they're swimming and cooling themselves off, their temperature can increase quite intensely because of the exercise."

To keep your pet cool, Sandler and the OSPCA recommend:

  • Shortening walks
     
  • Walking dogs along the grass instead of asphalt
     
  • Walking dogs at dusk and dawn when temperatures are lower
     
  • Wetting their fur and paws with cool (not cold) water
     
  • Keeping them in the shade
     
  • Giving them plenty of water, and ice cubes if they’ll eat them

Sandler said that leaving a pet in the car for a minute or two with air conditioning on is one thing, but any longer could cause heatstroke. "It just takes a few minutes," he said.

According to the OSPCA, symptoms of heatstroke include:

  • Heavy panting and difficulty breathing
     
  • Glazed eyes
     
  • Rapid heartbeat
     
  • Excessive thirst and profuse salivation
     
  • Lethargy
     
  • Fever
     
  • Dizziness or lack of co-ordination
     
  • Vomiting
     
  • Seizure
     
  • Redness of the tongue
     
  • Unconsciousness

If a pet starts showing these signs, Sandler said to take them to a veterinarian immediately. A normal body temperature for a dog is 39 degrees Celsius, and for a cat it is 38 degrees Celsius. If their body temperature becomes higher, brain damage or even death can occur, Sandler said.

So next time you're running errands with the summer sun still high in the sky, Sandler says stay on the safe side and leave your pet at home.