Safety Tips For Your Furry Family Members

LOS ANGELES — When the temperature outside is hot, animals must work hard to stay cool. Too much heat can be extremely dangerous and sometimes fatal.

The best plan is to keep your companions protected from the summer heat.

Here are some tips to keep your furry friends safe:

- Make sure that your dog or cat always has plenty of fresh water to drink. Some dogs love ice cubes, and you can add a few to the water bowl.

- Don't leave your pets in the car. Car interiors heat very quickly, even with the windows open. If it's 90 degrees out, temperatures can top 160 degrees faster than you can walk around the block. If he or she can't go inside at every stop with you, the animal is safer at home on hot days!

- If you go for a walk, make sure your buddy can walk in the grass. Pavement gets very hot and can burn their feet and, since they are lower to the ground, the heat coming off of the pavement makes pets even hotter.