It was author Charles J. Brady who said, 'the real measure of a day's heat is the length of a sleeping cat'.

According to Registered Veterinary Technician with Prairie Animal Health Centre, Kristin Caldwell, though, neither dogs or cats have an easy way to expel heat. This applies even moreso to a few dog breeds in particular.

"Dogs with short faces, so Pugs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Bull Dogs, they all have short faces, which means they can not take in enough air on the best of days, and they also have a hard time in the heat," said Caldewell. "So a lot of caution goes to those pet owners, a reminder for when the temperatures increase that those dogs need extra help keeping cool."

In peak summer it is always a good idea to walk your dogs in the early or late parts of the day when the temperatures aren't as high and there is more available shade.

"Whether it be cat or a dog, in summer you just have to be careful about hot cement and hot asphalt, it can also be painful and cause damage to the feet of pets," she warned.

Shorter periods of exercise is also a good way to ensure no heat exhaustion in your pets, but either way, Caldwell advises paying attention, monitoring for any signs of distress.

How can you know for sure if a pet is in heat distress?

"A lot of pet owners are in tune of how their pet is doing, excessive panting, gum colour changes, energy level," Caldwell described. "They'll try to sprawl themselves out, or they'll find a wet puddle, or lay themselves on cool cement."

"We want to avoid when a dog's gum colour or tongue turns brick red, so often as pet owners we know to look for purple or blue, but brick red tells us the pet is overheating," she shared.

Open-mouth breathing for a cat, she noted, is a surefire sign the cat needs to be taken out of the heat.

Sedentary animals like cats tend to cope with the heat more easily than dogs, but all household pets can succumb to accidents as well.

When the forecast calls for heat and humidity in the 30 degree range, most know to keep themselves out of the sun and to drink more water. While it's common to hear about a dog overheating in a car after being left inside by its owner, sometimes accidents can happen right in your own yard on a hot day.

For example, pets have been known to become stuck in sheds.

"We had a case last summer where it was an accident, the pet owners did not intend for their pet to get trapped, and their pet got trapped, and ended up overheating," shared Caldwell.

If you have outdoor buildings that tend to get warmer than is comfortable, she advises ensuring pets have a way out or no way into those spaces.

"Those are things to be careful of, that your pet can end up getting in there and not being able to get back out again and then they get too warm."

Even regular car rides can overheat a pet, so Caldwell recommends ensuring your furry friend is still welcome into the usual places, as many of the rules have changed this year.

"If you do feel like your pet has been extremely exposed to excessive temperatures, then seek emergency veterinary care immediately," she reminded.

You can't be too cautious on behalf of the furry and curious.