With temperatures soaring into the 90s this week, the Seattle Humane Society reminds pet owners to keep their furry friends safe from the summer heat.

Going for a long drive with your best friend is one of the joys of summer, society officials say, adding that even in Seattle, the interior of a car can hit 160 degrees in less than five minutes. Parking in the shade with the windows cracked just won’t do, society officials added.

Officials note that heat stroke develops rapidly and can lead to severe problems like organ failure and even death. Dogs and cats don’t sweat through their skin. They cool themselves by rapid breathing and when the temperature outside is hot and close to their internal body temperature, it means animals must work even harder to stay cool.

Pets with shorter noses, like bulldogs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heatstroke than breeds with longer noses as there is less area for heat to evaporate.

Signs of heat stroke in a pet include heavy panting, agitation, glazed eyes, rapid pulse, staggering, vomiting and a deep red or purple tongue.

Society officials say that if an animal becomes overheated, place him in a cool place and apply cool (not cold) water all over his body. Apply ice packs or cold towels only to the head, neck and chest. Let him drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes and take him immediately to a veterinarian.