Dogs will often transfer heat conductively by laying on cool surfaces or wetting themselves down, often times rolling in mud as that stays on them longer. Taking gel packs, freezing them and then putting them in their beds under a layer of material will provide a great cool resting place. Having a children’s pool or other water source for them to get wet in, or just occasionally hosing them down is also helpful. And if you go for long walks, in addition to taking along water, you can use a wet T-shirt sliced down the front and put it on your dog as a cool cape. This can easily be kept damp by pouring water on it throughout your walk. Even a wet bandana tied loosely around their neck can provide some much needed relief.

Make sure that outside dogs always have access to shade. Avoid concrete or asphalt areas where heat is reflected and there is no access to shade. On hot days, restrict exercise and don't take your dog jogging with you. Too much exercise when the weather is very hot can be dangerous for both humans and their pets.

If your pet has digestive issues, they often do not want to drink water due to effects of acid reflux in the stomach. In these cases, you can add a small of chicken broth to their water to encourage them to drink more. Be sure to change out the water several times a day, as chicken broth can spoil if left unrefrigerated for an extended period of time. If your pet has heart or kidney issues you will need to limit their salt intake, and you may need to add a sodium-free electrolyte solution to their water. Always consult with your veterinarian regarding what the optimal electrolyte levels should be for your pet in these circumstances.

What your dog eats can also help it cope with warm weather. Cats and dogs are carnivores and their digestive systems were never designed to digest large quantities of grain, which tends to ferment in their GI tracts and cause internal heat to be produced. Pet food that does not contain wheat, corn and soy, can dramatically decrease the internal heat produced from metabolic digestion.

And, what about all that fur you ask? As counter intuitive as it sounds, fur can help an animal cope in warm temperatures to some extent. Fur traps air and actually insulates the body, acting as a thermal regulator to slow down the process of heat absorption and protecting it from sunburn. But there is a limit to the insulating abilities of fur. The fur begins to trap heat rather than fend it off as temperatures and humidity levels rise to Florida summertime levels - making the animal even more uncomfortable.

Dogs with thick coats naturally shed so that they have a lighter coat in the summer. Remember to brush your dog’s fur to remove dead undercoat and bathe them frequently. Clean, brushed fur allows for better air circulation. Depending on your pet’s breed and natural coat, giving your long-haired dog a “summer cut” can help make this more manageable. Just make sure to leave 1-2 inches of fur so as to not disturb the natural cooling process or expose your dog to the risk of sunburn.

Never leave your pet in a parked car -- for any length of time. Leaving a sunroof or windows cracked open isn't enough. If you do that you have most assuredly consigned your dog to suffer in the equivalent of a car shaped oven. A dog’s body heat and expired air in the dog’s breath – which is normally about 102 degrees and has 100% humidity – will act like a heater inside the enclosed space of a car, making it hotter, more humid and harder for the animal to breathe/pant. Additionally, panting, especially when in distress, is a intense physical activity and as an animal overheats they get stressed and pant even harder, creating more activity that only further raises their temperature and generates even more heat inside the car.