The Dog Days of Summer are just around the corner. The Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA) offers the following tips to keep your hot dogs and cool cats safe as the weather heats up.

Before you head to your vacation destination, make sure your friends are up to date on their vaccinations and protected against fleas and ticks. Microchipping your pet will make it easier for you to be reunited with your feline or canine companion if he or she should become lost, especially while on vacation. Schedule a check up with your vet or visit the PSPCA’s Rutherford Memorial Hospital at 350 E. Erie Avenue, Philadelphia. For more information on the PSPCA’s low cost vaccinations and microchipping, call 215-426-6300.

When traveling with your pets by car, never leave them alone in your vehicle. Cars — even when parked in the shade with windows —become ovens. The intense heat could cause fatal hyperthermia.

When spending time outside with your pets keep plenty of cold water on hand and find a shady, grassy spot that hasn’t been treated with chemicals or pesticides. Don’t keep your dog on hot asphalt for prolonged periods of time — it can burn his or her pads. Give your canine friend a break from the heat and humidity — bring them inside where a fan or air conditioner will keep them cool when the afternoon sun is at its peak.

Give your longhaired dog a special summer hairdo. Shaving a dog’s longer hair or heavy coat to about a one-inch length not only looks great, but it will help make your dog feel cooler, too.

Don’t forget sunscreen. The sun’s rays can also burn your pet’s skin, especially if he or she has white or light hair. Use an animal-friendly sunscreen to protect your friend.

The PSPCA wishes you and your faithful companion to have a fun, healthy summer.