When it comes to beating the summer heat and humidity, humans are very good at taking care of themselves. Everything from air-conditioning to electric fans, garden umbrellas, canopies, hats and sunblock lotions, swimming, and exercising in the very coolest parts of the day and evening all come into play.

Unfortunately, the story is not always the same when it comes to their animals, too many of whom, either through thoughtlessness, improper care, or downright neglect, end up hungry, thirsty, with skin ailments and even sunburn. This week, Lifestyle's Nancy Acton spoke with veterinarian Dr. Andrew Madeiros on the problems and solutions surrounding animal care in summer.

Access to shade; cool, clean water, and fresh food served in clean bowls are the basic daily requirements of every animal, especially those which are tied up, tethered or fenced in out of doors.

Shade: In terms of staying cool during the hottest part of the day, dogs, horses and cattle must be able to access shelter in a shady area. In terms of dogs, 'shade' does not mean a plastic dog box sitting in the sun, the interior temperature of which Dr. Madeiros likens to that of car standing in a hot parking lot all day.

"A dog box needs to be situated in a place which provides shade — either under some trees or on a porch," he says.

Chains have a tendency to tangle or hitch around obstacles, including food and water bowls, so care should be taken to ensure that these things cannot happen when a dog is tied up. Chains must also be long enough to let the animal move freely.

Food and water should always be fresh and clean every day, and also placed in a cool, shady area. Water sitting in the sun gets hot, which dogs and cats don't like and won't drink. Food left out of doors gets covered in ants and flies very quickly, and also goes bad, leading to waste. Cats, in particular, have a very keen sense of smell, and since food begins to break down as soon as it is exposed to air, if it's been left out for very long they pick up on that, hence their reputation for being "fussy" eaters.

In any case, to keep ants at bay, set the food bowl in the middle of a larger bowl or pan partially filled with water.

"Don't put fresh food in dirty bowls, and wash and clean food and water bowls daily," Dr. Madeiros advises.

In terms of eating habits, the veterinarian says that sometimes dogs do not eat well in hot weather, so he recommends varying their feeding times to earlier in the day and later in the evening, when the temperatures are lower.

"Monitor their eating habits and adjust accordingly."

Sunburn: Owners of white or light-coloured dogs, and dogs with white bellies or white patches on their bodies, ears and noses need to be carefully monitored in terms of exposure to the sun, as these areas are prone to sunburn. In fact, Dr. Madeiros suggests that owners might want to keep their pets indoors when the sun is beating down.

Exercise and heatstroke: One of the veterinarian's "biggest bugbears" is the way people exercise their dogs in the heat.

"I see it all the time — 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. they're walking their dogs along the road, which is very risky. When it is hot and humid, dogs can run into trouble with heatstroke.

"Larger dogs in particular — pit bulls, American bulldogs, rottweilers, dogs with a more pushed-in nose or shorter snout — are more prone to heatstroke. When it gets hot and humid, they start to pant, and with heavy panting they can get a lot of inflammation in their airway, which can then narrow and make it harder for them to breathe. As a result, they have trouble cooling, and can then collapse," he says.

"People really have to be careful about exercising their animals in the summer. All dogs should be walked either earlier or later in the day. People should also take water with them, and stop for little breaks in the shade. Be conscious of the dog's breathing. If its tongue is out and it is panting, it's time to stop."

In fact, the veterinarian's practice sees a number of dogs who have collapsed with heat stroke each summer, and says humidity is a big factor.

"The higher the humidity, the more trouble dogs have cooling," he warns.

Dogs in cars: Taking the dog in the car when going shopping or running errands is a definite 'no-no' in Dr. Madeiros' book.

"It is very risky, even if you leave the car running with the air conditioning on because dogs have been known to accidentally knock gears, lock doors, release hand brakes...so it is not a good idea. Certainly, it is not a good idea to leave them in the car in summer anyway — unless you are able to sit with the dog and leave the windows down."

Grooming: Long-haired and thick-coated dogs are often prone to skin infections, and what veterinarians call "hot spots" — areas of infection like moist dermatitis. Regular grooming to remove dead hair from the coat, and periodical baths to improve the health of the skin and remove dirt, are the ways to go in combating this problem.

"You need to watch out for that first skin infection, because when it is humid it is more of a problem," Dr. Madeiros warns.

Fleas: The bane of both the animals and their owners' existence. Unfortunately, early and late summer are when they are seen the most, but the good news is that there are new products on the market to treat animals with fleas which are more effective than earlier products.

"So there is no excuse any more for dogs to have fleas, just be aware that they are more of a problem in the summer. The the tell-tale signs are itching, scratching and losing hair. The skin then gets sore and infected, which leads to the nasty "hot spots" and oozy, sticky patches," the veterinarian advises.

Of course, ridding the animal of fleas is only part of the solution. Bedding, dog houses and areas where the animal spends a lot of time must also be deflead, and the eggs killed.

Swimming: Many dogs enjoy swimming, but of course the beaches are off limits in summer. Nevertheless, there are other areas from which they can access the sea — along shorelines, off docks and boats — as well as in private pools. While Dr. Madeiros says both types of water are fine, he recommends rinsing the animal off afterwards and towel drying it.

"When dogs get wet their coats hold water, and the more warm and humid they are, the more likely they are to get skin problems because water traps moisture and the skin gets inflamed. Also, pool chemicals can dry on and irritate the skin."

Cats: Because outdoor cats are not restrained, finding shade and shelter from the hot sun is easier for them. Nevertheless, skin cancer is a big problem for certain colourings. Those prone to the disease are white cats, or ones with white patches around the nose, eyelids, and ear tips. Pink noses are also vulnerable, and Dr. Madeiros recommends that they all be kept out of the summer sun as a preventative measure.

Horses and cattle: Again, those which are light-coloured or have white patches on their noses, ears and bodies must have access to natural shade at all times, as well as a good supply of cool, fresh water. Exercising horses when the heat and humidity are high means they have more difficulty cooling off, so avoid this during the hottest part of the day.