Unhealthy Air Quality: How to keep your pets safe from smog and fire haze

Do you live in a city with a high amount of smog (city toxins) and/or poor air quality? Limit outside exposure especially on days where air quality is measured to be at its poorest. Pet owners should also limit animals’ outdoor time if there are nearby wildfires. Wild fire smoke can spread rapidly and hang around for days if not weeks. Smoke inhalation can cause disorientation and confusion, fainting, lethargy and seizures.

Both dogs and cats are at risk of respiratory issues, and doctors say certain animals are at heightened risk, especially puppies and older dogs, pets with asthma and bronchitis, and dogs with rounder faces and shorter noses (like bulldogs and Boston terriers).

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Tips to keep your pets safe:

• Keep pets indoors with the windows closed.
• Use air conditioning to further filter the air, if possible.
• Outdoor bathroom breaks should be kept short.
• Avoid prolonged exercise.
• Keep pets well hydrated.
• Look for signs of respiratory stress and eye inflammation. If pets show symptoms, see a veterinarian immediately.
• Urban farm animals (goats, chickens, rabbits) are less likely to become ill, as they are used to dusty conditions. However, it’s important to monitor them for abnormal behavior or symptoms of illness. Be sure to keep them sheltered from heat.
• For homes that are smoky indoors due to the proximity to fires, consider keeping pets at a doggy day care or with a trusted friend who lives away from the area.

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Signs of respiratory stress include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Unusual or excessive coughing, sneezing, vomiting or loss of appetite
• Swelling or inflammation of the mouth, eyes, skin or upper airway
• Open-mouthed breathing, especially in cats
• Weakness/lethargy
• Uncoordinated walking/unable to stand
• Increased salivation

Owners should seek immediate veterinary care for their pets if they show any of the above symptoms.