The unseasonably high temperatures hitting Central Georgia this week have many people cranking on the air conditioner, but finding ways to cool off can be more difficult for your family pet.
Erin Roberts says when the mercury starts to climb it's time to make some changes to her 5 dogs' routine.
"After 9 a.m. in the morning they can never be out for more than 10 minutes. We set a timer to make sure," said Roberts.
She also says she cut down their hair for the summer, and stopped their trips to the dog park when the temperatures get too high.
"It is simply too hot," she said.
Walter Searcy, Friends of the Macon Dog Park president says he set out several baby pools at the park to help keep the animals cool.
Searcy stopped by the park Tuesday when he heard about a stray dog. He says he wanted to get the dog out of the heat.
Dr. Angela Shurling Bushway with the Riverside Animal Hospital says keeping pets inside and hydrated with cool clean water is key.
"Our pets don't have sweat glands except in their little paw pads and they can't sweat," she said. "They pant. That's one way they get rid of the heat, but that also make them more susceptible to getting overheated and having a heat stroke."
Shurling Bushway says she's seen heat stress this year, with pets moving slower and not eating as much food, but she says when your pets start to pant heavily, that's a clear sign.
"It's time to get back inside and cool off," she said.
Roberts says sometimes her dogs don't want to head back inside.
"You know they don't have the rational to know what's in their best interest or what's good for them," said Roberts, and as a pet owner she says that's where she has to step in.
Shurling Bushway says some breeds of dogs with "smushed faces" like Boston Terriers and English Bulldogs have a lower tolerance for heat.
She recommends letting your pets enjoy the outdoors during the morning or evenings when it's cooler outside.
Shurling Bushway also says trimming down a pet's hair isn't always a good idea. For some animals she says the hair helps insulate them. She says you should check with your veterinarian on the how to best take care of your pet during the hot summer months.