Labor Day weekend always feels like the last summer hurrah. Many people choose to spend their weekend outdoors with picnics and backyard barbeques making sure they soak up the sun while they can before the colder weather arrives.

The long weekend is a time to celebrate with our friends and family, including our four-legged ones! To fully enjoy the weekend and closing summertime festivities with your furry friends, keep these important safety tips in mind.

1.) Keep Your Dog Cool

Labor Day is a hot holiday so be sure to keep your dog cool. Don’t leave your dog in a parked car even if just for even a few minutes. Those minutes can be fatal. If your pooch is outside, give them some shade and watch for signs of overheating, like glassy eyes and rapid panting.

2.) Supervise Swimming Activities

There's a myth that all dogs can swim. However, dogs can drown in a pool, lake or other bodies of water. While senior dogs and dogs with certain medical conditions are even more prone to drowning, younger and healthy dogs are still at risk. Unless you know your dog is a good swimmer, it's recommended they wear a life jacket. It's also best they're never left unsupervised near or in the water, even in a life jacket.

The water also brings other dangers that pose a risk to the wellbeing of your pooch besides drowning. Lakes, rivers, unmaintained pools and other bodies of water can have harmful bacteria, such as parasites, salmonella, and blue-green algae. A deadly variety of algae has caused a recent number of dog deaths in the Southern and Eastern United States, causing concern among pet owners nationwide.

3.) Avoid Giving Your Dog Scraps From The Grill

Avoid giving your dog too many scraps from the grill altogether. Any change in diet, even just for one meal, can give your fur friend diarrhea and indigestion. This especially rings true with older dogs who have more sensitive digestive systems.

Bones and corncobs can create a choking hazard that may cause harm to a dog's intestines. Also keep in mind that certain foods such as onions, avocados, grapes, chocolate, and raisins can be toxic to your furry friend.

4.) Make Sure Your Dog's Identification Is Updated

Make sure your dog's identification is updated in the event your dog does get loose. Your dog should have a collar ID and an up-to-date microchip.