beat the heat

Look cool, feel cool, be cool — canines that won't tolerate any clothing (like UV shirts) can still beat the heat with a simple accessory. Hawaiian Sun Bandanas ($17) are filled with nontoxic crystals so when soaked in cold water (for 30 seconds to 15 minutes), the insert turns into a gel and lets off the coolness slowly, similar to an ice pack. After the bandana air dries on the outside, just place on a dog's neck and let him chill out before repeating the process. Hot dogs no more!

Are you ready for the circus, the kitty circus, that is? Felines whose whiskers twitch at the warmer weather during this season may have used an outdoor run like the Feline Funhouse or Cat Teepee in the past. Well, for an added touch of whimsy, there are a couple new additions on the market — the Carousel and Ferris Wheel which can be purchased separately or together as the whole kit and kaboodle Kittywalk Carnival ($350).

While it looks like shady fun under the big top to me, would you know of any lions and tigers housecats that would dig right into this concept?

If it's hard to lure a pooch into a pool or lake, and he still views a hose down as something too close to a bath, here's a great solution to keep your cool, while trying to keep him cool as well. The Dog Cooling Vest ($50 and up) not only offers a shield to save him from the sun, but it can also be soaked in water so he's wet without a sudden shock of a spray or splash. Even though the idea itself is pretty cool, I especially love that one of the sizes is mini Dachshund! It's often hard to entirely cover these odd-shaped pooches, and they deserve protection, too!

Even though I know playa means beach in Spanish (and is pronounced differently), I still got a kick out of calling this brand PlayaPup since my pooch loves to play! One thing that's not playtime safe for light colored dogs is too much fun in the sun. Canines can get burnt so, if you don't want to slather on some petsafe sunscreen, grab one of these cute tees instead.

Like surf shirts, the five sizes protect dogs with UPF 50+ to block 97.5 percent of those bad UV rays. The lightweight fabric won't cling and is great for a quick dip as it dries equally fast. Check out the cool colors when you read more

As temperatures rise, you can always try noshing on some foods to help you keep your cool. Along with heat and humidity, Summer brings an abundance of fruits and veggies considered cooling foods.

While working toward meeting your five daily servings of produce, try these foods to help you beat the heat from the inside out.

• cucumbers
• celery
• broccoli
• lettuces
• radishes
• melons
• mint tea (try it iced and mixed with lemonade)
• grilled fish

Smoothies and cool soups like gazpacho are also great to beat the heat.