Does Your Pet Need the AC on When You Leave?

Air conditioning is a must in Las Vegas during the summer. Most people keep their AC units on until they leave for work, use it in their car and then enjoy a cooled office building. If you live alone, you might be able to get away with turning off the system when you leave for the day, but pet owners must decide whether or not it’s hot enough to leave the air conditioner on for their pets.

This is a point of contention for many animal lovers. Some imagine that, because so many animals live outdoors year-round, their indoor pet may be able to weather the heat well enough; others fear their pets may suffer heat stroke while they are at work all day. 

Mother Jones explains that house pets are susceptible to overheating, so it’s important to keep them cool during the summer months, especially in a Las Vegas heat wave.

Dogs and Cats Rely on Cool Air to Regulate Their Body Temperatures

Pets don’t sweat under all of their fur. Instead, they’ve developed a unique way to cool their bodies, including panting to continuously cool the air in their lungs. However, when temperatures around them rise too high, panting no longer works, and they could develop heat stroke.

This doesn’t mean you need to keep your air conditioning unit set to 70 degrees, because animals can remain comfortable at higher temperatures, despite their fur. Your pet should be happy with a setting between 78 and 82 degrees.

If you’re worried that leaving your air conditioner running all day will lead to higher bills, it’s important that you have a professional service stop in for an assessment. Even small problems that develop in you AC unit can drive up your bill. With an optimized air conditioner, though, leaving it on for your pet should be affordable.

To schedule an appointment for air-conditioner maintenance, call us. At Royal Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning, we are committed to saving you money. We’ll even give you a free second opinion if you’re planning to install a new system. To learn more, call us today at 702-645-3000.

Combine Your AC With Other Cooling Strategies to Keep Your Pet Happy and Healthy

Persian cats, bulldogs, pugs, young pets and aging pets are at a greater risk of overheating than other animals. For these pets, you might consider putting ice in their water bowls. Try this once while you are home for the day before making it a habit, because certain animals refuse to drink water with ice in it.

If you’re concerned that your air conditioning unit is not functioning properly, don’t wait until it breaks to call for help. At Royal Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning, we employ fully bonded and licensed technicians who are committed to keeping your unit in working order. To schedule an appointment in Las Vegas, call us today at 702-645-3000.