MINNEAPOLIS - Parenting takes some skill and some common sense.

That remains true when we are talking about the parenting of a pet in this heat.

Pets don't really call the shots so they rely on you to make good decisions.

First and foremost, no matter how routine it is, don't take your dog in the car to run a few errands.

"The temperatures in there rise very quickly and a dog can get into trouble in 3-5 minutes," All Paws Animal Hospital Veterinarian Dr. Ali Lee O'Halloran said Tuesday.

Temperatures in a car can easily get to 120 degrees within a matter of a minute. Cracking the windows does little to no good.

In Minneapolis alone, last year, five dogs died after being left alone in a car for just a few minutes from brain injury or heat stroke.

When it come to walking time, just be mindful.

A couple of blocks are fine but stay off the pavement if you can those paws burn.

"Absolutely contact burn sensitivity, we do see thermal burns on the bottoms of paws," Dr. Lee O'Halloran said.

Play time in the park is ok but limit it and make sure there is shade around and water.

But don't, do NOT, go for a run. Even if that's the norm.

"Don't have you animal on a leash where they can't control the pace of anything, we do see heat stroke in dogs and it is not a pleasant thing to deal with."

Symptoms of heat stroke in dogs are vomiting, disorientation and lethargy.

If you want to cool your dog off use regular room temperature water on their ears, coat and paws, not shocking ice water.

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