Helpful Tips about your Pets
Beware of Heat Stroke: 
 Most people are aware that leaving a pet in a locked car on a 100F degree day would be dangerous. However, it is the seemingly mild days of spring (and fall) that pose great danger, also. Driving around, parking, and leaving your pet in the car for "just a minute" can be deadly.
On an 85 degree day, the temperature inside your car, even with the windows open a bit, will climb to 102 degrees in 10 minutes! After half an hour, it will go up to 120 degrees or even higher! On a 90 degree day, temps in that car can top 160 degrees faster than you can walk around the block. We won't even talk about the back of a pickup truck, "in the fresh air," with no shade. If you really love your dog, leave him at home, in a nice, cool, place, with plenty of fresh water to drink.
A dog's normal body temperature is 101.5 to 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. A body temp of 107 - 108 degrees for a dog would be equivalent to, say, 104 - 105 or so in a human. Not only that, but dogs don't cool themselves by sweating, as their People do, but by evaporation through panting.
With the right combination of circumstances, your pet can suffer heat stroke even if you do all the do's and don't all the don'ts.
How do you recognize heat stroke in your pet? He'll pant like crazy, become exhausted or agitated, start upchucking. At this point, you can usually cool him down by giving him ice cubes to lick (cold water will upset his stomach worse and hasten dehydration), sponging him down with a wet towel, and letting him lie in front of a fan. In extreme cases, after the previous symptoms manifest themselves, his gums will take on a grayish tinge, then his tongue will turn blue, then he'll lose consciousness. Take immediate action! Immerse him in cold water or hose him down with a gentle but soaking spray and direct that fan on him. Get his body temperature down first, then call your vet! If you do these in reverse order, it may be too late.
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