Johnson: Pets, like people, need relief from heat

It’s been a little hard not to notice, but in the interest of giving ample attention to the obvious, it’s hot outside.

And if you fell for that cloud cover on Friday, you might as well give up on any hope of rain, fill the back yard pool, dig out the sunscreen and get

In search of ponies

ready to see that electric bill jump, because the next couple of weeks are going to be toasty.

In fact, not only are temperatures expected to stay above 98 in coming days, triple digits might start to feel normal if current patterns hold, according to David Craft, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The good news: Things should cool a little toward the weekend with temperatures coming in at a balmy 96-to-97-ish Friday, Craft said, marking the lowest temperatures predicted for Clovis and Portales next week.

The bad news: It’s usually monsoon season in the region but it doesn’t look like rain is coming anytime soon.

It’s all thanks to a high-pressure system lingering nearby that’s keeping moisture at bay in Eastern New Mexico and sending it toward Arizona for the next month. While there’s always a chance a back-door cold front could provide some relief – early next week there should be a temporary spell of slightly cooler, windy weather for example – however Craft said it’s most likely the remainder of July will consist of higher than average temperatures and dry air.

The lack of monsoon rains is something of a mixed blessing in terms of comfort, Craft said, explaining higher heat without humidity is easier for the body to tolerate because perspiration is able to evaporate and cool, whereas high humidity makes temperatures feel much hotter.

Even in dry conditions, however, 100-plus degrees is still hot, which translates to some pretty uncomfortable days and as we humans deal with the heat over the next few weeks, we also need to work harder to keep our pets comfortable and safe.

It’s important to understand critters have an added fur coat and less control over the environments they’re subjected to than us humans, which places the responsibility on their people to be sure they are taken care of.

Craft said that for the most part, caring for pets during heat waves comes down to taking common sense measures.

“Animals are like us.” Craft said “(People) have to at least provide shade, plenty of drinking water and a really kind thing to do would be to give them access to air conditioning.”

Any pet would love air conditioning on a hot day but experts recommend that especially during periods of high heat, older pets or those with health conditions should be kept indoors.

Also, since heat drains energy and kills appetites, extra naps and unfinished meals are to be expected – adjust feeding and exercise routines to cooler times of day.

For outdoor pets or those who engage in outdoor activities, make hydration a top priority. Carry plenty of water for pets on-the-go and be sure outdoor water dishes are filled frequently with clean, fresh water. Water or broth ice cubes are a nice summer treat for hot critters and small wading pools can take the edge off a sweltering day.

Inescapable sun is brutal, so be sure pets have access to shade – trees, tarps, ventilated pet houses — throughout the day as the sun’s position changes. For short hair critters or those with exposed skin, apply pet-friendly sunscreen to prevent painful burns.

If all else fails, duck the heat altogether, take the critters inside, crank up the air, and chill until the sun goes down — it's the cool thing to do.

Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at:

[email protected]