(TNS) — High temperatures are on everyone’s mind in central Pennsylvania this week, and keeping yourself cool is only half the battle, as your furry friends and other pets might need help, too.

Here are a few ways, according to PETA, to help keep your animals cool as the temperatures continue to rise:

• Keep your animals indoors: Dogs only sweat through their paw pads and are kept cool through panting. Keeping your animals inside and not outside for too long is one way to ensure their safety in the heat. Under Pennsylvania’s Libre Law, dogs cannot be outside and chained up for more than 30 minutes when temperatures are in the 90s.
• Know the symptoms of heatstroke: Symptoms include heavy panting, vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy, and restlessness. PETA says that if your animal exhibits these symptoms, try to lower their body temperature with a cold towel to the head and chest.
• Be careful when walking your dogs: Hot days can lead to the sidewalks reaching temperatures of over 100 degrees, and dogs can feel the effects of the hot cement/concrete. PETA recommends that dogs be walked in the morning or late evening when it’s cooler, changing your route to something more shaded, and carrying water for your furry friends.
• Keep animals hydrated: Dogs can dehydrate very easily, so it can be helpful during hotter weather to keep water in the car if traveling, inside and outside of your home.

Heat wave conditions in the Lower Susquehanna Valley could push the heat index up to 108 degrees, so ensuring you and your dogs are cool is essential.