This hot weather takes a toll on us as people, but imagine how it feels for our furry friends! This is something to keep in mind as we walk our dogs or have them tag along with us to the beach. A local veterinarian says it's important to keep some weather tips in mind for our pets.

"Animals don't sweat like we do so when it gets warm they have a lot harder times than us to stay cool so we need to be really really careful to avoid situations where they are going to overheat," said Dr. Steve Schuder, a veterinarian and owner of Duluth Veterinary Hospital.

As we take our dogs out with us in this hotter than usual weather, keeping them hydrated and cool is something to always keep in mind. This is even more important for overweight or older dogs and those with preexisting health issues.

"They are going to get very hot very quickly and what you're going to see first thing is they're going to start lagging behind and start panting heavily and so that dog needs to get in and cool down extremely quickly," said Schuder.

Going in the lake is a great way for our pets to cool off as well. Many of them were enjoying the beach at Park Point Friday afternoon. That's what Duluthian Lily Strickler and her energetic dog Bella did.

"This is actually her first time going to an actual lake so she was really excited," said Strickler.

Strickler said she makes sure to always bring water when going on walks with Bella.

"Bringing like a portable water dish because they have some that are collapsible and then a bottle of water for yourself and I always share with her," said Strickler.

Schuder said leaving your dog in a car is a big no no. Even if you say you'll be back fast, the temperature in a car changes in a matter of minutes and this could turn into a deadly situation for your dog.

"We never take our dogs in the car unless we know someone will be in the vehicle in the car sitting with them or for instance I ran and did grocery shopping before picking my dog up so we never leave the dogs in the car," said Susan Nystrom-Murray of Duluth.

A good rule of thumb lastly, if you walk out the door and it feels hot to you, it's too hot for your furry friend. Walking them when the weather is cooler in the day is recommended.

"In general the best time to be walking if you're going to do walks at this point is right away in the morning and late evening when it’s as cool as possible," said Schuder.