Officials with the Maryland Department of Agriculture reminded pet owners this week to protect their furry friends during stretches of “deadly heat" this past week.

As temperatures climbed into the 90s throughout the Broadneck peninsula, state veterinarian Dr. Guy Hohenhaus warned residents in a news release to be extra sensitive to their pets’ environments.

“Pets can’t tell you when they’re hot and thirsty. You should assume that if you’re hot and uncomfortable outside, your pet will be even more so,” Hohenhaus said.

Local veterinarians have offered the following tips to care for your four-legged friends this summer as the heat continues to reign down on the region.

• Put ice water in your animal's dish, it will cool down their body temperature.
• Keep your pets indoors, only letting them outside to relieve themselves.
• If they are outside for any reason, keep them in the shade.
• Do not exercise your pet outside during extreme heat.
• Be cautious with older pets specifically.
• Never leave a pet inside a car.
• Buy a plastic kid’s pool to let your pet play during the heat, it’s a great way for them to cool off.

Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch editor Jonathan Moynihan contributed to this article.