By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON — Hutchinson veterinarian Jon Austin, DVM notes that if your air conditioning can't keep up, it's important to take care of your indoor pets until it can get fixed.
"I had that last week," Austin said. "The couple I had, the air conditioner went out on Sunday and we talked that evening, it was already 8:00 and so the sun had already started to cool off and they were going to get through that night, but they dropped the dogs off with us on Monday morning and we had them through Wednesday. They have two kind of large, longer haired black lab mix dogs and their air conditioner didn't get fixed until Wednesday. The dogs spent three days with me at the animal hospital boarding, because they were not able to be safe at home."
Austin only does boarding for his veterinary clients, but other boarding kennels should have space, as long as it is in the middle of the week. Also, if you are going to leave for the day, whether inside or outside, be sure your pets have plenty of water.
"If you have one of those unattended animals and you don't have anybody who can come and check on it and take care of it for you, you sure need to make provisions to ensure that animal will have water," Austin said. "Typically, those kind of animals who have those behaviors will have a water bowl or bucket that's either too big and too heavy for them to disturb or the owners will literally attach it to the kennel wall with wire. That way, it stays in place."
For dogs who need to be active, you may need to move that activity to earlier in the day.
"If you have a dog that you exercise, if they do anything that requires exertion, you should do it really early, even before the sun comes up," Austin said. "Some mornings, you wake up, it's already 80 before it's even light. You just have to be aware of the humidity, of the heat and then make changes as best you can. There may be days where you just don't get to do it, if it's too hot."
It's also important not to walk or run your dogs on areas that are black like asphalt during the heat of the day, as you can burn the dog's pads of their feet that way. If you have any questions, contact your veterinarian for more information.