pet experts say yes
The argument comes up frequently this time of year. When you leave home, should you leave your air conditioning on for your pets?
Caryl Scrimpsher, the owner of the Rob Cary Pet Resort on Bulverde Road, says the answer is, definitely yes.
"They overheat much more quickly than we do," she said. "That's largely because dogs and cats don't sweat like we do."
The argument is mainly that pets have lived for 99.98% of their evolutionary lives in conditions that don't have climate controlled environments. But Scrimpsher says, so have humans, and we don't make it very long in a hot room without some sort of air conditioning.
"Most of us are used to being in air conditioning and quite frankly, we'd be in trouble being out in the heat ourselves," she said. "Quite frankly, so would our pets."
She says many breeds of dogs and cats actually become stressed out by the heat a lot quicker than humans do, largely because we can get out of our heavy coats, and they can't. She says it's not unusual for dogs to be stressed out by the heat simply by taking a ride to the pet resort in a vehicle with less than adequate air conditioning.
She says dogs and cats can actually have their small blood vessels pop due to overheating, and even moderate overheating should be treated by a vet.
And also, dogs and cats are also susceptible to sun burn if their coats are trimmed too closely during the summer.
"They can get sunburned just like we can," she said. "Particularly dogs that are white in color, and have the pink skin underneath. That's just like a fair skinned person, that is very easily sunburned."
She says it does cost a little more to keep the a/c running when you're not at home, but she says your dogs and cats will appreciate it, and, hey, it's cheaper than a vet bill.
