by KYW's Nan Tallena

The dog days of summer are as rough on our pets as they are on us.

Dogs and cats suffer from the same ailments resulting from the extensive heat as we do -- including dehydration, overheating, and even sunburn. 

Signs to watch for are excessive panting, overall weakness, drooling, and a rise in body temperature. Pay particular attention to senior, special-needs, and overweight dogs and cats.  

Keep your pet indoors and in cooler temperatures during intense heat.  Always supply plenty of fresh, cool water. Try to walk your dog in shady areas and in the early morning and/or after sunset, as hot aspalt can injure and burn their pads. 

Never ever leave your pet alone in a vehicle.  Heat stroke and death can result . The temperature in a car is deceiving -- it can reach over 150 degrees even with the windows down.  

And don’t be fooled by parking in a shady area on extremely hot days. As the sun shifts, temperatures in the vehicle may shoot up to a deadly level.