By Kim Grant
Founder - KimsPets.com

Guest Columnist Special Feature:

With summer here, dog owners are taking their canine companions everywhere -- parks, beaches, flea markets, outdoor restaurants, festivals, vacations, hiking and boating. Though it's great to be outdoors, remember to protect your pet from the sun and heat.

The color pink
While bubblegum pink is the trendy color for canine couture this season, a pink nose, ears and belly can be painful. Yes pets can get sunburn just like humans.

How can you protect your pet? Use a non-toxic, water-soluble spray sunscreen designed specifically for pets.

For dogs, protect the nose and belly, which tend to turn bright pink from the sun, and other areas where fur is thin. Cats can benefit as well by applying to their nose and tips of ears. Talk with your veterinarian to find out which sunscreen is best for your pet.

Fashionable eyewear
Pet eyewear is more than a fashion statement. Several manufacturers design eyewear to protect Fido's eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays and foreign objects such as Doggles(R) (you know how Fido likes to stick his head out the car window).

Protective eyewear for canines can help prevent cataracts and protect those puppy dog eyes from foreign objects such as bugs, wind, twigs and tall grass, which are all common with summer activities and travel.

Heat stroke
Don't leave your canine companion in a parked car this summer. Pets can die from heat stroke. When it's 85 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car with the windows slightly open could soar to 102 degrees in 10 minutes and 120 degrees or higher in 30 minutes, according to the Animal Protection Institute. If you believe your pet may be suffering from heat stroke, contact your local animal hospital ASAP.

Additional tips:
- Make sure your pet has plenty of water.
- Keep your pets in shaded, well-ventilated areas away from direct sunlight.
- Avoid walking your pet on hot pavement or blacktop surfaces.

Have pet, will travel
Are you one of the millions of pet owners who will travel with their pet this summer? According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) more than 15 million Americans travel with their pet each year.

Don't forget to pack Muffin's suitcase. Here are some summer travel tips:

• Bring water and food from home as well as food bowls and portable pet water dispensers such as the Gulpy(TM).
• Keep your pet restrained while driving. A crate works best. This will protect your pet from injury as well prevent you from being distracted by your pet. A crate is great to have at the hotel as well. Don't forget their bedding or favorite blanket.
• Pack the ID tags, pet first aid kit and pet meds.
• Take an extra leash along.
• Grab pet toys such as a Kong(R) and Frisbee(R) and chew bones.
• Bring cleanup supplies for accidents in the car, hotel room, rental property, boat, RV or tent.
• Take a pet stroller or pet carrier along for older dogs or ones that tire easily.
• Confirm that the hotel, campsite or rental property is pet-friendly. According to the APPMA, AAA lists more than 12,000 lodgings that accept pets.
• Be courteous to other guests. Clean up after your pooch. Keep Muffin on a leash and under control at all times. Remember some people are uncomfortable around dogs.
• Watch for wildlife caution signs. For example, if you are visiting in the south, be wary of walking your dog in areas where alligators are common.
• And if your pet does not like to travel, find a local pet sitter through www.petsit.com or visit a local kennel for boarding.
• As always, consult with your animal hospital regarding summer and travel safety for your pet.