3 Must-Read Ways to Protect Your Puppy from the Sun This Summer

As much as we love chillin’ poolside, it’s no big secret that the sun can do a lot of damage to our skin. While we know tons of tips and remedies for kid sun protection and non-obvious sun tips for grown-ups, it’s easy to forget that our fur babies can also suffer from too much sun too. According to Daily Vet’s Dr. Patty Khuly, many pet parents assume that dogs simply adjust to the warmer weather — which is just not true. Here are three common heat-related injuries and how to protect your sun-kissed pooch from them this summer.

Pooch Footsie Care

Although many dog parents assume that the pads on pups’ feet will save them from the hot ground, dogs can actually be seriously injured from walking on super hot asphalt. While the treatment for burnt paws is painful and uncomfortable, it just takes a simple adjustment to prevent it. “Put booties on your dog before you walk them on the street,” suggests Dr. Khuly. Most adorable suggestion ever. “Or preferably, wait for a cooler time of day to walk them,” she says.

Puppy Heat Stroke

When the summer months finally replace the rain, your active pup probably can’t wait to play a long game of Frisbee in the warm sun, but that doesn’t mean that they should stay out there all day. More common in dogs with long hair and/or short, flat faces (AKA Pugs and French Bulldogs), heat stroke and non-fever hyperthermia can be very dangerous for dogs. Look out for some of the warning signs — excessive drooling, reddened gums and muscle tremors (full list here) — and keep your dog hydrated and as cool as possible.

If you think your dog is overheating, try spritzing them with cool water, but do NOT give them cold or ice water, as it may actually stop their doggie body’s process of cooling off, warns Pet M.D. If your pup’s symptoms worsen, take Fido in for an emergency vet visit, as the consequences of overheating can be quite serious for small dogs.

Doggie Sunburns

If you thought your pooch was safe from the sun’s harmful rays, even as you slather on the SPF, think again. Sunburns are a common problem for our outdoor-loving friends, and can be pretty painful and just plain bad for their skin. Not all dogs can sunbathe equally — dogs with white or light-colored fur are far more susceptible to burns. “Chronic dog sunbathers [should] be kept indoors at the time the sun’s rays are the most powerful,” suggests Dr. Khuly. If possible, try using a dog-friendly sunscreen like Epi-Pet Sun Protector Spray for Pets ($18) to keep your pup’s skin healthy and happy this summer.

Do you have any tips or tricks to keep our pups safe this summer? Tweet us by mentioning @BritandCo.

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(Featured photo via Getty)

The rise of pet influencers is quite possibly one of the greatest things to come out of social media, at least IMO. I mean, who doesn’t want to see cute animals everyday?

With the freedom for connection provided by apps like TikTok and Instagram, pet owners have a totally new forum to share the lives of their favorite critters. This niche has exploded, unveiling a world of influencing focused around the lives of these pets, and TBH we’re not mad about it.

Thus, in honor of National Pet Day we *had* to honor our furry friends (and virtual furry friends) by sharing some of our fave pet-fluencers across social media.

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King Clarence has a bone to pick with Taylor Swift! 😳 #dogsoftiktok #labsoftiktok #funnydog #dogtok #fyp

For black-lab lovers, we recommend watching the daily shenanigans of Clarence, or King C, as he’s better known. Follow our fave black lab-in-a-bowtie on TikTok @jimmyrams and @jimmyandclarence on Instagram.

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woofy on Instagram: "#barbie"

Woofy is a Supermutt with the charisma of George Clooney, and the looks to replace Margot Robbie in Barbie. Basically, he’s the whole package. Follow Woofy on Instagram and TikTok at @woofyandjenna.

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Sterling Newton on Instagram: "Let the games begin 🤣#chase #goldenretrievers #sneakattacks"

Sterling and Colin are your classic Golden Retrievers turned puppy school dropouts, constantly causing loads of chaos. Follow the duo @lifeofsterlingnewton on Instagram, TikTok and Youtube.

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Playing in the wind for the first time 🍃 #puppy #longline #puppyplay #cockerspaniel #cute

Now this pup is probably the best trained in the bunch. Suki is a show Cocker Spaniel, and she will steal your heart and your attention. Follow Suki on Tiktok @suki_the_spaniel and on Instagram at @suki_thespaniel.

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Minnie & Millie on Instagram: "Hello 👋 we are Minnie & Millie! Long haired Dalmatian sisters! We will follow you back! Comment once you follow us 🫶🏻😍 #follow #dalmatian #lcdal #longhaireddalmatian #sisters #minnienmillie #fyp"

Minnie and Millie are Dalmatian sisters who definitely like to test their big sister Bella, a Golden Retriever, and Bengal cat Elsa. Follow the sisters @minnienmillie on Instagram and TikTok.

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She is still SUPER quiet most of the time #specialneedsdog #dogvlog #barking #dogmom #dogsoftiktok #pugslife #petcommunity #funnyanimals

Puppet is a quirky pug with a whole lot of personality. Follow Puppet on TikTok at @puppetpug.

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Titan doesnt take things lightly 😅👺 #DogsofTikTok #PerritosTikTok #Doglove #TikTokdeperros #perritos #puppylove #goldenretriever #perrito #dog #doglover #TikToksdeperritos @Titán 🐶👺

Chilaquil, the bilingual golden, is one of the cutest pups on TikTok, discussing his adventures from Toronto to Mexico with his pawrents. Follow Chilaquil on TikTok at @goldenchilaquil.

And of course we couldn't forget our favorite kitties.

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HONEY | Cat Chef | Princess on Instagram: "Yo Yo’s are a YUMMY Aussie cookie that are melt in your mouth purrfection! 😻 They are sometimes also called melting moments, and with their buttery soft texture it’s easy to see why! Here’s a throwback video from 2 years ago that not many of you have seen, but these cookies are SO worth making! The recipe that we used is from @bakeplaysmile , and it works purrfectly so we recommend to follow that one and all the tips! (Just google ‘bake play smile yo yo biscuits’) Happy Mixy Mixing! 💕 #madewithkitchenaid #instabake #chefcat #catsofinstagram #reelsinstagram #gingercat #catsofaustralia #australia #baking #melbourne #yoyos #yoyobiscuits #cookies #meltingmoments #cutecats"

Honey is an Australian cat chef and fashionista, serving up the best dishes (and looks) on the daily. Follow Princess @princesshoneybellex on TikTok, and @princesshoneybelle on Instagram.

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Probably my favorite thing he does 😍 #scottishkilt #munchkinkitten #cute #kitten #catsoftiktok #cat #fyp #kitten

IMO Gus is the cutest cat on TikTok. I mean, just look at the way he gets off the bed. Follow Gus @gusseybussey on TikTok.

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I’m so happy I get to share Nimbus with over 1 MILLION of you!!! 🤍 #catsoftiktok #siberiancat #fyp #foryou #viral #cat #zoomies #meow

Of course we couldn’t forget the king of late night zoomies, Nimbus. Follow this siberian kitty on Instagram and TikTok at @nimbus_siberian.

If traditional pets aren't your thing, there is certainly a pet-fluencer to suit your fancy.

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Where my PEEPS at? 🐰 #peeps #thisoneformypeeps #happyeaster #littlethumbelinagirl #fyp #viral

Take Thumbelina, for instance. Thumbelina was rescued by wildlife rehab specialists after her mom abandoned her, and has since enjoyed the finer things in life. Follow Thumbelina on Instagram and TikTok at @little_thumbelina_girl.

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Raccoons rate me on yelp. #raccoon #drivethru #food #raccoons

Now this account is a little different than the rest. Raccoon Drive Thru follows a woman feeding raccoons at her house. Follow Racoon Drive Thru on TikTok at @theracoondrivethru.

We are screaming from all the cuteness! BRB while we take a break to scroll through more of pet TikTok.

Who are your fave pet-fluencers? Tell us in the comments below! Plus, stay updated on all the latest trends with Brit + Co.

Photo Courtesy of Brooke Cagle/Unsplash

It's official: Blue Ivy looks totally grown up now — especially in her gorgeous gold gown at the Mufasa: The Lion Kingpremiere. It honestly feels like just yesterday that Beyoncé announced she was born, and now she's a star in her own right! She celebrated her Disney film debut with her family by her side on the red carpet (and everyone looking as gorgeous as ever).

While Jay-Z was one of the latest celebrities caught in the crosshairs of P. Diddy allegations, it didn't stop mom and dad from showing their unwavering support. The family put on a united front, smiling for the cameras and praising Blue's work on her latest Disney film, further proving that they're in this together. Here's everything we know!

Details about the Mufasa: The Lion King premiere

Beyoncé & Jay-Z Amazing Support Of Blue Ivy's Role In 'Mufasa'

Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Blue Ivy stars in Mufasa: The Lion King as Kiara with Beyoncé voicing Nala again. The highly anticipated film will show Mufasa's origins from a young cub to the majestic king we've come to know, love, and mourn.

In this cute BTS clip, Beyoncé and Blue are initially shown in separate recording booths while the latter says, "Don't stare at me." It's a typical response all kids eventually give their parents, but it doesn't bother Beyoncé. She simply smiles and says, "I can't help it. You're just too beautiful girl." Still, she offers a bit of reassurance to Blue. "I'mma be right here closing my eyes."

Blue briefly talked about what it feels like to work on a movie by saying, "If I like told my younger self that I was in a movie, I'd like never believe myself."

The star couldn't help but tear up as she continued to watch Blue and said, "Give me a second. I'm still...just can't believe that's my baby." While sitting side by Blue, Beyoncé eventually turns to look at her to let her know she's "so proud of her." Even Rumi, Beyoncé and Jay-Z's youngest daughter, makes a quick appearance!

The Mufasa: The Lion King premiere occurred December 9 with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and grandma Tina Knowles standing by Blue Ivy's side. They looked stunning on the red carpet as they wore coordinating outfits. Although the ladies seemed to be present and excited, Jay-Z temporarily looked distracted while all of them were standing together (via PEOPLE).

If we had to guess, it may have something to do with the recent allegations connecting he and P. Diddy weighing on his mind. After the accusation went public, Jay-Z penned his own public statement and shared it to Roc Nations' social channels. The most heartbreaking aspect of it is realizing his children will be able to see everything.

"My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people," he wrote (via X). Only time will tell how everything pans out, but we hope this doesn't overshadow Blue Ivy's success, nor do we want to see people vilify her or her siblings for alleged misdeeds of Jay-Z.

At the end of the day, we're so proud of Blue for letting her light shine bright despite everything else!

Follow us on Facebook to stay updated on more celebrity news.

There’s never a bad time to celebrate your best friend — your dog! We’ve pulled together some amazing customizable gifts that will make your pup (and you) feel extra special. From comfy slippers that you’ll love padding around the house in to colorful bandanas personalized with your dog’s name, here are the products that are sure to bring a smile to your face and a wag to your pup’s tail.

Ahhh…Paris Geller. Where does one even begin with the best Gilmore Girl whose name isn't actually Gilmore? The woman we all came to know and love. The purveyor of backhanded compliments, deadpan humor, the quickest wit one can imagine and an absolutely ungodly work ethic. The sole character of the series who I would 100% watch a spin-off of, and love every minute. Sure — she once said that everyone around her needed to be sterilized immediately. And that Rory’s boyfriend offers “nothing to women or the world in general.” And that she can “scare the stupid out of you. But the lazy runs deep.”

She may, in fact, be the only character whose absurdity warrants such unhinged comments, and I am so here for it. You may be reading this because you too believe that Paris Geller deserves way more praise than she receives. Or you hate her. Or perhaps you don’t even know who she is. Regardless, allow me to delight you with the many — shall I say — unique musings of my favorite Gilmore Girls character, and explain exactly why Paris was not only what the cult-classic show needed, but the feminist icon TV needed, too.

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So let’s start from the beginning. Paris Geller (played by Liza Weil) joined the GG crew in Season 1, right as Rory Gilmore (the show’s sort-of protagonist) walked into Chilton Academy, a private school where Paris was attending, for her first day. A far cry from Rory’s relatively timid and soft-spoken personality, Paris tore up the screen with her high-strung personality and immediate rivalry with Rory (Rory did not feel the same), who Paris viewed as the only candidate who could possibly challenge her spot at the top of the class standing. As the year progresses, the two become friends, which of course Paris still highly questioned.

The rest of their high school experience is plagued with repeated ups and downs, from Paris’s parents’ highly publicized divorce to their joint student government campaign and, most notably, Paris’s C-SPAN meltdown, courtesy of a Harvard rejection fueled by what she can only assume to be wide-spread knowledge that she lost her virginity. Despite losing the Valedictorian slot to Rory (which Paris comes to terms with after finding out Salutatorians tend to be more successful), Paris walks across the graduation stage and accepts her diploma from the school’s headmaster, to which she iconically quips, “no hard feelings.”

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Fast forward to Paris’s first year at Yale, a school she knew Rory was attending but had no intention of ever seeing again. Not to the surprise of Paris’s life coach, the two frenemies were placed together as suitemates, a pairing that ultimately served as a catalyst for lifelong friendship. Throughout college, Paris pursues pre-med and pre-law degrees, joins the Yale Daily News alongside Rory, dates an elderly professor (he passes away, leaving Paris to grieve), moves on with the editor of the Yale Daily News, Doyle McMaster, and potentially saves Rory from abandoning Yale forever by admitting to Lorelai that Rory is the only person who ever listened to her, challenged her and motivated her.

Paris then proceeds to become the editor of the Yale Daily News, a position in which her power-hungry tendencies took full-force, resulting in a forcible resignation, kick Rory out of their shared apartment, let Rory move back into their shared apartment (now with Doyle), be accepted to a slew of prestigious medical and law schools. She ultimately chose to attend med school and break up with Doyle, to which he refused, and tells Rory that they’re on their own but she can still do great things (Of course this doesn’t last, the two are meant to be best friends.)

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Somehow this doesn't even scratch the surface of the character of Paris. As you can tell, Paris is a fiercely loyal, protective woman who fights for herself to no end. She (literally) doesn’t care what other people think (so long as they’re not within her immediate circle) and never stops pursuing her dreams, no matter how many times she probably should have. She is the epitome of feminism in modern television — perhaps taken to an extreme — and serves as a necessary counterweight to Rory’s floundering sense of self.

So long as she keeps her need for perfectionism in check, Paris has one of those few personality types whose wild ambition and outspokenness is directly beneficial to her success, a success that she, and only she, can define. Sure, she has an exaggerated sense of self-importance, but when balanced by Rory’s soft-but-straightforward approach, Paris can quickly reset, reevaluate and move forward.

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That's the thing with Paris — she’s always moving forward. She doesn't get into Harvard? Tough. She takes a few days to wallow before considering her other options: Yale, Columbia and Princeton. She doesn’t know whether to choose med school or law school, so she takes stock of her bearings, reflects on her past dreams, and makes a clear, concise decision that she moves forward with.

Her brutally honest nature (both internally and externally) is exactly why Paris works. She’s generous when needed, comfortable with giving tough (and oftentimes tougher) love, is able to express vulnerability with the people she loves, doesn’t allow outside influences to affect her path and never let’s someone (especially a man) tell her she’s less than (*cough, cough*—Rory). For an early 2000s show, she showed women that there is power in education. There’s power in stepping away from a caretaker role. There’s power in expressing your opinion, no matter your age.

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There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s inspired countless women over the years — after all, she’s inspired me! Even though she’s had her controversial moments, she’s always been a cheering voice for women, even if it’s behind her resting grimace. For these reasons, and so many more, I am hereby deeming Paris Geller the best of Gilmore Girls — the heroine, perhaps, and a feminist icon to all.

What's your take on Paris Geller? Let us know in the comments, and sign up for our email newsletter for more pop culture musings!

Header image via Netflix, Warner Bros

This post has been updated.

Gilmore Girlstakes up more of my brain space than I'd care to admit. The show is undeniably great. I mean, there's a reason it's become an absolute cultural phenomenon! The banter is witty and memorable, the Stars Hollow, Connecticut setting is warm and friendly, and the character dynamics feel natural and comforting. All of these elements combined create the perfect comfort show thatI personally rewatch again and again. However, despite having an overall positive opinion of the show, there is one bone I have to pick with it. This grievance makes my blood boil and keeps me tossing and turning at night.

While I can't pose my all-too-important question to the creators of the show, I will ask it to you, reader: Why in the world was Lane Kim's storyline such a travesty? Considering the show is not shy about uplifting and celebrating Rory (despite her many mistakes) it feels especially unfair how short of a stick Lane (played by Keiko Agena) truly got. Here are my unfiltered thoughts on the subject.

Lane deserved better after a life of seeking independence

Photo via WBLane Kim's Treatment On "Gilmore Girls" Is The Ultimate TV Tragedy

Throughout Lane's formative teenage years, she was forced to hide her true identity and interests in order to appease her mother. From hiding CDs in her floorboards and changing her clothes when she got to school, Lane was under a lot of pressure to keep her mom happy, while still trying to figure out who she was. Her mother even kicked her out after finding out about her "secret life," causing Lane to have to move into Rory's dorm. Rory, on the other hand, had a mother who supported her every dream and who she could be fully herself with.

I'm not sure why only one of these two besties got to live out their dreams, but if it did have to play out this way, it should have been Lane Kim. Given how difficult her upbringing was, couldn't the show have given her a win by having *her* be the one who gets to follow her dreams?

Lane's love life is lackluster

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Once again, the show propped up Rory and gave her not one, not two, but three love interests. Whether or not you love all three of them, we can all admit that each boyfriend was compatible with Rory in their own way, and helped her learn and grow. Lane, however, did not get this. Her first boyfriend, Dave, is great. He's kind and sweet and understanding of her family situation, but the show breaks them up because they can't handle being long-distance. (Technically, we know actor Adam Brody had to leave for The O.C. but where is the justice??!)

After Dave, it all goes downhill from there for poor Lane. She ends up with Zack, who isn't bad but isn't great. And, as soon as Lane is finally getting to pursue her passion by going on tour with her band, she finds out she and Zack are pregnant. Considering how long Lane dreamed of getting to be her authentic herself and openly express her interests, it feels cruel that this twist of fate took it away from her at this exact moment.

Lane made the best of her situation

Image via Neil Jacobs/Netflix

Despite Rory having almost every opportunity available to her, we find out in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life that she is making bad decisions (like, er, sleeping with an engaged man) and is struggling to find her way. Lane, on the other hand, has made the best out of the cards she's been dealt. She's still married to Zack, is taking care of her twins, and has even kept music in her life by joining a band. I can't help but think if Lane can forge ahead despite all of her unfortunate circumstances, how fantastic could her life have been if the writers had served her just a little bit more good fortune?

Lane could have served as the role model so many girls needed

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Lane's experience mirrors many Asian-American girls' lives. She had a strict upbringing and struggled to strike a balance between fitting in with her American peers and forming her own identity, while still trying to manage her mother's expectations of who she should be. As an Asian-American, Lane's experiences mirrored many of my own, and, at a time when there was such little Asian representation, this was extremely impactful.

With the lack of representation at the time, it was even more important that Lane was dealt an ending that she and her viewers could be proud of. Instead of turning her into somewhat of a cautionary tale, her story could have been utilized to empower an audience of individuals who saw themselves in her. For that reason, Lane's treatment on Gilmore Girls will never quite sit right with me.

What do you think about Lane Kim's storyline on Gilmore Girls? Let us know in the comments and check out our guide to Where Is The Gilmore Girls Cast Now? to keep up with your favorite Stars Hollow residents (even if they're not in Stars Hollow anymore).

Lead image via Warner Bros

This post has been updated.