As you plod along on a hot day, or dash from air-conditioning to car and back again, you’re doing all you can to not pass out from the heat.

Your pets feel the heat, too.

“Pets can be in danger in so many ways,” said Maura Davies, vice president for marketing and communication for the SPCA of Texas. “Use your common sense. If you’re hot, your pets will be hot.”

Dogs are much more heat-sensitive than humans, said Dallas veterinarian Kathryn Sarpong. “They cool down by breathing and panting. When the temperature is over 90 and they’re panting, they’re heating themselves up and not cooling themselves.”

Here’s what you need to know about pets and heat.

A fur coat is not insulating

“When animals exert themselves, their bodies are heating and a fur coat prevents heat from escaping like it would for us,” Sarpong said.

That said, Davies warned that shaving pets’ coats too close to their skin “can decrease their ability to regulate heat,” she said. Even more importantly, she said, they can get sunburned.

Hot sidewalks are hot for everyone

“Several times every summer, we see paw burns,” Sarpong said. They’re painful, plus take a long time to heal. Test the temperature by putting your hand on the sidewalk.

“If it’s hot for your hand, it’s hot for their feet.”

Signs of heat distress

“Dogs will start to pant heavily and their tongues will hang out and be a bright red color,” Sarpong said. “They’ll start seeking shade or the grass while they’re walking.”

Other cues include listlessness and convulsions, Davies said.

If you’re far from home and your dog is experiencing symptoms, pour water from your water bottle down your dog’s back, recommended Sarpong. “I tell clients to wet their dogs before a walk. It lets them evaporate water and that’s what our sweat does. It takes heat away from the body, giving them an additional way to cool down.”

Certain breeds feel the heat more

Bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers and other short-nosed dogs “tend to be the most heat-sensitive and also enthusiastic dogs,” Sarpong said. “They don’t admit they’re uncomfortable.”

Avoid hot cars

“The biggest, biggest health concern: Never ever ever leave your pets in a parked car,” Davies said, “even on an 80-degree day, even with the windows cracked. A car can act like an oven.”

Keep pets indoors if at all possible

The SPCA of Texas advises people who do keep pets outdoors to give them plenty of water and shade. A kiddie pool filled with water is a good idea too, Davies said.

“Best of all, bring your pets inside.”

She also recommended keeping the indoor temperature at 78 degrees or lower, even when you’re not there.

What about cats?

“Most cats are indoors, we hope,” Sarpong said. Those who are outdoors tend to know enough to nap in the shade when it’s hot outside, she said.

A few more things

If you see an animal in distress, call for help. Call 911 or go to spca.org/cruelty.

Keep walks shorter; walk early in the day or after the sun sets. For all pets, make sure fresh water is available.