Temps during the day on O'ahu are soaring, and it'll be like this all summer. Just two weeks ago, we were still enjoying the cool spring weather.

It's tough on animals in the summertime because of their thick fur coats. My dog Zoe stretches out on the wooden floor and pants heavily. That's the signal for me to turn on the air conditioner to make her more comfortable.

Here's another way to keep our canines cool, and they will thank you for it. Icy Pooch Pops are refreshing popsicle-like treats that will make your doggie's day.

Darlene Tokunaga, Icy Pooch Pops founder, knew how much dogs love ice and how hot it gets in Hawai'i. She put those ideas together and the light bulb went on.

Last June, Icy Pooch Pops was born. Next month, Icy Pooch Pops marks its first anniversary.

Tokunaga says it took a while to come up with the right recipes. She went through a multitude of test pops until she found the right recipe combinations. Currently, she features a sweet version — Plantation, a banana-peanut butter pop — and the savory Loco Moe, flavored like a loco moco. Seasonal flavors of the treats include turkey cranberry and pumpkin pie.

Her frosty treats are made with human-grade ingredients: bananas, peanut butter, honey, yogurt, vanilla, rice, eggs, chicken broth and parsley.

Right now, willing taste testers include pet friends and the neighborhood hounds.

Tokunaga makes the refreshing pops in her Makiki kitchen. Because of the need for more space, she'll be upgrading to a commercial kitchen soon.

At the Pet Expo last weekend, Tokunaga passed out samples of icy pops and they were a big hit. The Loco Moe pops ran out first.

"The doggies were the stars. Big, small, fluffy, furry. There were chompers, dainty eaters and even an Afghan dog who picked 'her flavor' and then knelt on her two front legs ('okole in the air) to eat her treat. Really adorable," Tokunaga says.

You can purchase Icy Pooch Pops in singles or in eight-packs at The Pet Spot and Bark Avenue in Honolulu and Ko'olau Pets on the Windward side. And they also will be available soon at Ohana Doggie Day Care and Spa.

For more information about these delectable and cool goodies, visit http://icypoochpops.com.

Animal lover Leslie Kawamoto has been with the Advertiser for 19 years, or 133 in dog years. Check out her blog at www.islandtails.honadvblogs.com