As temperatures continue to rise in Lexington County, protecting your pet is a must.

Lexington County Animal Services, nonprofit no-kill shelter Pawmetto Lifeline and Sunset Animal Clinic veterinarian Ellen Huse offered tips on how to keep your pet safe in the heat.

According to Denise Wilkinson, CEO of Pawmetto Lifeline, one of her biggest concerns is the heat of concrete and asphalt. She said a dog constantly picking up their feet while on concrete is a sign of pain and discomfort.

“You need to be mindful that that concrete is too hot for them to stand on,” Wilkinson said. “There are little booties you can get for them to wear so they don’t burn part of the pads of their feet.”

Huse told the Chronicle to walk your dog during the cooler times of day and to make sure they get breaks and water.

She said that owners also need to know their pet and their limits, explaining that heatstroke is a concern.

“They could actually die,” she said. “Having them sitting out in the backyard with no attention in the heat … why have a pet if they’re not gonna be part of your family.”

Another major concern that Wilkinson mentioned was pets being left in cars. She said a dog can overheat in minutes, adding that Pawmetto discourages anybody from leaving a dog in a car, regardless of the temperature.

Brittany Jones, director of animal services for the county, shared that the county has an ordinance to help protect pets when there are higher temperatures.

“If you’re not doing it out of common courtesy and love for your pet, then you have to do it out of law,” she said.

According to Jones, the ordinance states that an animal cannot be outside without shade for longer than 30 minutes and without shelter for longer than two hours, adding that water must be available to the animal at all times.

The director said that this ordinance gets enforced by residents calling animal services and letting them know of possible neglect. She said that the county’s first step is to educate the owner, adding that if this doesn’t work, then authorities move more to the enforcement side with citations or warnings being issued.

Jones also shared a few ways to notice if your pet is uncomfortable due to heat.

“Digging usually means a dog is hot, it can also mean the dog is bored, but typically means the dog is hot and is trying to get in the sand to cool off,” she said, “That’s a sign of, ‘Hey, maybe I should add something else so that my dog can really get a little cooler.’

“Also, if the dog is panting extremely then dogs panting is a sign of them being hot or stressed out,” she added.

According to Huse, other signs of heat stress include drooling and being unsteady and restless. The veterinarian added that it is dangerous for an animal to have a heatstroke and can lead to them collapsing.

“A lot of it’s common sense,” she said. “What I tell people is, if it’s hot outside for us, it’s hot outside for our pets. Dogs are going to pant to cool down. We’re going to sweat. Sweating is a much more effective cooling mechanism. So you really have to be extra careful.”

She mentioned that brachycephalic breeds, like pugs and french bulldogs, tend to be more susceptible to the heat due to their short noses.

One metric Jones offered for making sure the heat is comfortable is to judge it by iced tea. If the ice is melting and the drink is getting watered down, check the dog’s outdoor bowl to see if the water is getting hot.

“It’s just a little extra step that would keep your dog happy and healthy during the summer,” she said.