Summer is one of the best times for you and your canine pal to spend quality time outdoors. It’s also the season that can be potentially dangerous to dogs as well. In order to keep your pets safe, you will need to learn about the potential hazards such as sunburn, heat stroke, and even drowning. Contrary to popular myth, dogs are not natural swimmers.

The canine world is full of exciting sights, sounds, and adventures. Invariably, there are many things your dog can eat that may be hazardous to his or her health. Poisons, plants, chemicals, toxic foods, and other substances can create a medical emergency for your dog. It's vital for your pet's safety that you learn which ones are most likely to adversely affect your dog and make a concerted effort to avoid them at all costs. It is very important that you know what to do should your pet ingest or be exposed to a toxin.

It's essential to keep your dog cool and safe in order to avoid heat stroke, poisoning, and even sunburn. Yes, dogs can suffer from sunburn — especially white dogs. Safety is extremely important when dogs are exposed to swimming and playing near water. These are a few of the things responsible dog owners should know in order to maintain their dog’s safety:

Be cognizant of the fact that not all dogs can swim. In a perfect world, you hope that your dog will jump in the water and automatically know what to do. While some dogs may appear to instinctively know how to swim, many others do not. Do not assume that your dog will know how to swim, no matter what the breed. There are many dogs who fear the water and refuse to attempt to swim. You should never force a dog into the water.

There are knowledgeable individuals who offer swim instruction — seek them out for information. It’s very important to take it slowly when first introducing the dog to water. Start with a shallow body of water, devoid of waves, where your dog can walk in. Build up a solid foundation prior to introducing a dog to lakes, pools, and open water.

It’s imperative to train the dog to know where the exit steps are located when swimming in a pool. Be sure to supervise your dog at all times. During the training process, all dogs should be fitted with a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) to alleviate any fear and allow the dog the opportunity to feel safe when exploring the water. PFD’s should be used for all dogs on boats, canoes, kayaks, powerboats, and any watercraft. This rule should be enforced even for the best swimmers. A PFD can help save your dog from riptides, rapids, waves, and more. The PFD makes your dog easier to find and grasp from the water if they should go overboard. PFDs may be purchased from marine supply stores or online retailers.

It's very important to watch what your dog drinks. Most dogs will gladly drink the water they swim in. This can present a serious problem depending on the type of water. The salt content in ocean water can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, or serious dehydration. Pool chemicals are extremely dangerous and not healthy to ingest. Although river, pond, lake, and stream water may appear harmless, they may contain parasites such as Giardia or other bacteria that can be harmful. Bacteria and parasites are more likely to be found in standing water than running water.

Most dogs will attempt to drink some of the water and will likely ingest some. Small amounts are generally not a problem. Carry plenty of fresh, clean water and make it available for your dog. Watch your dog for any sign of illness, especially after swimming.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact your vet immediately and advise them of the circumstances and events prior to your dog becoming ill.

Yes, your dog can suffer from sunburns too. Dogs with lighter hair, short hair, or pink noses are at a greater risk, but all dogs are susceptible, even long-haired dogs can get sunburned noses. Water reflects light, so a sunburn is more likely to occur around water. Ensure that your dog has plenty of shade available while swimming. A reliable recall is essential to any outdoor event. Most dogs will be off-leash during the swim outing and this is why it's necessary to have a secure recall. You should be able to call your dog back to you with 100 percent reliability. The dog should also be trained to stay close and check-in with your periodically. Should your dog be headed toward trouble you need to be able to rely on the fact that he will come when called. Prior to heading to any area for swimming, make sure your dog has this foundation of training. If your dog lacks this training it will be necessary to keep them on a long leash for the duration of the swim.

Although summer is widely recognized as the time for travel, be aware that hot cars are death traps for dogs and children. It's beyond the pale that some folks think it's okay to leave a pet in the car for “just a minute." Here are the reasons why you should not:

*Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness because they can only cool off by panting and through the pads in their feet.

*Even on seemingly mild days, a closed car can be deadly. When it’s 72 degrees outside, a car’s internal temperature climbs to 116 degrees within one hour.

*Enclosed cars heat up quickly. When it’s 80 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can exceed 99 degrees in 10 minutes and 109 degrees in 20 minutes.

*A dog’s normal body temperature is between 101 and 102.5 degrees; a dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage, or even death.

*Studies show that cracking the windows has little effect on a car’s internal temperature.

*Finally, for those who like to run with their dogs it might come as a surprise that the pavement beneath your dog's paws could be burning hot. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible. It’s a well known fact that hot pavement can have painful and horrendous consequences.

Here is a quick test to see if the pavement’s temperature is safe enough for a walk or run with your dog: Place the back of your hand on the pavement, and if you can't keep it there for five seconds, it's too hot for your pup's feet. If you are adamant about exercising with your canine, reserve the time slots of very early morning or after the sun has gone down and be sure to take all safety precautions including vests and flashlights.

There's nothing better than spending the summer days with your pet and a little common sense goes a long way. Keep these safety tips in mind and your dog will have a summer they can enjoy. Hope to see you on the Lake!

Margaret A. Reed, PhD, is the coauthor of the best-selling book, The Dogs of Camelot, an AKC dog show judge, thoroughbred racehorse owner, principal of Canine Training and Behavior Services LLC, and she serves on the board of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, James A Baker Institute for Animal Health.