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Can a puppy or kitten sleep in an aircon room? Having similar body temperatures to humans, puppies and kittens also find it hard to adjust to extreme temperatures. Whether it’s too hot or too cold in the room, pets start putting effort into regulating their body temperature. This makes them feel tired, given they lose a lot of energy while trying to warm up or cool off.
Leaving the pets sleeping in an air-conditioned room can be a blessing for them. Yet, you don’t have to go to extremes, as it can make your beloved puppies or kittens feel uncomfortable. Read on – Can A Puppy Or Kitten Sleep In An Aircon Room?
Can a pet sleep in an aircon room?
Yes. As long as the aircon runs at a reasonable temperature, pets can sleep in such an environment. When it’s too hot, some people set the aircon to extremely low temperatures. They want their room to be a refrigerator they could take refuge in from the scorching heat outside. If you have a pet, you are better off avoiding doing this.
The human body finds it easier to adjust to sharp temperature changes than pets.
Cats and dogs don’t sweat, so fighting against extreme temperatures is always a big challenge for them. To make sure your pet sleeps well in the room, keep the aircon temperature within reasonable limits. A few degrees lower or higher will make the pet feel comfortable and stay safe from disease.
Factors to consider when setting the air conditioner for your pet
1. Age
Grown-up pets can accommodate new temperatures at ease, as long as the change is not drastic. For puppies and kittens, it’s much harder to adjust to temperature changes, even if they are insignificant. If your pet is less than 1 month old, do not let it sleep in an air-conditioned room.
2. Breed
Before setting a comfortable temperature for your pet in the aircon room, consider its breed particularities. For example, double-coated dogs, such as Husky and Labrador, overheat faster. This means they need cooler temperatures to survive the heat.
On the other hand, single-coated dogs, such as Poodles, are more vulnerable to cold. You have to make only a slight AC adjustment to prevent discomfort for your four-legged friend. Also, you are good to move the bed of your single-coated pet away from the running aircon.
3. Body fat
Pets with much body fat get colder slower. It allows you to set cooler temperatures in the room, being sure it won’t affect your companion’s body. Skinny dogs and cats are more sensitive to temperature changes. So, you shouldn’t play with extremes when setting the AC to the needs of your sensitive pet.
Can an air conditioner cause a pet’s disease?
Drastic temperature changes can make your dog or cat sick. Being outside in hot weather, then coming back in an air-conditioned environment can cause hypothermia in your pet. Things are worse when it is single coated and has a thin layer of body fat.
Hypothermia is a result of being in a cold place for too long. It leads to several complications, including stiff muscles, low heart rate, breathing difficulty, shivering, lost coordination, and lack of motivation.
Luckily, your fast action can save your pet’s life. First of all, take it out of the aircon room and bring it to a warm place. Wrap it in a blanket and surround it with bottles filled with hot water. This will increase the heart rate, causing the muscles and brain to receive sufficient blood and oxygen. If you allow hypothermia to develop, it may lead to serious complications, including the death of your pets.
Sleeping all night in an air-conditioned room can also make the dog catch a cold. There are some things you can do to help your four-legged friend recover faster. Use a humidifier to help relieve the runny nose.
Also, give your pet as much liquid as possible. Like it happens with humans, proper hydration accelerates the recovery from flu and cold. Eating nutritious food is also a must for your pup or kitty, as it helps the body fight against the virus. Moreover, as a caring owner, you are good to let your pet get as much rest as it wants. It’s during the sleeping time that most of the recovery processes take place.
Signs that your pet feels hot
There are some telltale signs that your dog or cat feels hot. The main one is intense panting. Pets use heavy and fast breathing to cool off their body. They don’t sweat as humans do. Dry gums and excess drooling should also tell you that your pet is feeling too warm. If you notice these signs, turn on the air conditioner to lower the temperature in the room.
Signs that your pet feels cold
You can also tell your pet feels cold by some body signs. Touching the ears is a good way to know how your pup or kitty feels. If the ears are cold, you are good to take the pet to a warm place. If all your house is air-conditioned, cover your speechless friend with a blanket. Similar to humans, animals start to shiver when they feel cold in an effort to warm up.
Moreover, they move slowly given low heart rate and bad blood supply to muscles. You will also notice your pet curl up in a ball to preserve the body heat. In such cases, you have to wrap a thick blanket around your dog or cat. And, what’s most important, to take it out of the aircon room or turn off the AC.
Can A Puppy Or Kitten Sleep In An Aircon Room? – Bottom line
You can let your puppy or kitten sleep in an air-conditioned room with some conditions. The room should be neither too cold nor too hot for the pet. Keep in mind that pets find it harder to regulate their body temperature than humans. That’s why it is good to adjust the aircon by only a few degrees. You should be especially considerate and caring with single-coated and skinny pets.
Being sensitive to sharp temperature changes, they can easily get hypothermia. Another vulnerable category is puppies and kittens that are less than 1 month of age.
We hope you enjoyed and learned something from this article. If you require any dog grooming or cat grooming services, feel free to contact us and enquire about our services!