On hot days you may know the guidelines for keeping yourself cool but what about your pets?

In the summer of 2022 the city saw its hottest 30-day stretch in history. And this year Boston experienced the hottest June day on record, at a mind-numbing 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

With these hot days veterinarians warn pet owners to be aware of the signs of heat stress, which can quickly turn deadly.

GBH Morning Edition host Mark Herz spoke with veterinarian Kelly Fishman with Strut Animal Mobility Specialists, to get her tips about how to keep your furry friends safe during the summer heat.

What are some tell-tale signs of heat stress in dogs?

Fishman: “Well, dogs don’t sweat, so that’s one of the first things to know is that they actually have to lose their body heat by panting and then also increasing some of the blood flow to their head and nostrils. What it would be is that your dog will sit down on a hot and humid day and cannot stop panting. Every breath is a big pant. Their tongue is out hanging out of their mouth, like a big floppy spade, and they are just saying to you, 'I am too hot.’”

Some dogs are more at risk.

Fishman: “Certain dog types and breeds are more at risk for getting heat stroke. One is the little French Bulldogs, because they have a smaller face, it’s actually really bad at helping them pant, unlike a lab who has a long snout that’s more efficient. Older dogs also have a bigger problem with these heat waves.”

What do I do if I see my dog struggling with the heat?

Fishman: “Walking early in the morning and late at evening, choosing to exercise your dog in shaded grassy areas and not the hot asphalt or concrete. If you have a pool or a lake nearby, get them in the water. That’s a great way for dogs to actually cool themselves down naturally.

The most up to date evidence we have from the University of Pennsylvania Working Dog Center has shown that if they take a gallon of water and throw a ball at the bottom of the gallon, the dogs that fully immerse their heads actually cool faster and they showed that’s even better than putting ice packs or cooling towels around your dog, or applying any kind of alcohol pads.

Any way to cool your dog down is better than doing nothing. So, if they have a dog that’s panting excessively and has one of these risk factors either their breed or their age and their dog seems hot - trust that it’s hot and take your dog to the emergency veterinarian because heat stroke, if they do get it, only has a 50% survival rate.”

What about heat stress in cats?

Fishman: “[Cats] seem to be more heat tolerant than dogs. They actually also prefer hotter weather. Dogs prefer like a low 70's temperature, and a cat actually prefers like 99 [degrees] , which is kind of funny.”