Wildfires are getting larger, fiercer and more frequent, which means poor air quality from smoke is becoming a common and widespread problem. Here’s how to protect your dog or cat’s health from its effects.
Over the last several years, the wildfire season has become unprecedented in many regions of the world, including the US, Canada, and Europe. Around the globe, in fact, wildfires are growing ever more severe, intense and frequent. Even if you don’t live in or near an affected area, smoke and particulates spread through the atmosphere, affecting air quality hundreds and even thousands of miles from the actual fires. Breathing wildfire smoke can have serious health impacts, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems that impact our dogs and cats as well as ourselves. As the weather warms up and we move into another wildfire season, it’s important to take precautions to protect your best friend from poor air quality caused by smoke.
WHY WILDFIRE SMOKE IS HAZARDOUS
Wildfire smoke is comprised of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, soot, hydrocarbons, and other organic substances including nitrogen oxides and trace minerals. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it’s the particulate matter — a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air — that causes the principal health threat.
HOW WILDFIRE SMOKE IMPACTS DOGS AND CATS
Our companion animals react very much the way we do when exposed to wildfire smoke, according to veterinarian Dr. Debra Zoran of the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team.
“Their responses are very similar to ours in that smoke and pollutants are irritants,” she says. “They have hazardous materials in them that can be harmful if the exposure is prolonged; and they can cause some of the same short-term signs of sneezing, watery eyes/nose, coughing, etc. [that humans experience].”
SOME ANIMALS ARE AT HIGHER RISK
All dogs and cats can be affected by poor air quality, although some groups are more vulnerable.
“As with humans, the young, old, and any animals with pre-existing conditions that make their airways sensitive or susceptible to injury are all…much less able to manage lower oxygen levels, higher particulates in the air, and poor air quality, and could be incapacitated more quickly or develop a flare-up of their condition,” says Dr. Zoran.
She adds that brachycephalic breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, Persian cats and exotic shorthair cats are at particular risk, as well as animals with lung diseases like bronchitis or asthma, or other conditions including obesity, heart disease, or infections.
SYMPTOMS OF SMOKE EXPOSURE
Regardless of your dog or cat’s age, breed or health status, keep a close watch on her during periods of poor air quality.
“Signs of respiratory compromise are increased breathing rate or effort; coughing, including with expectoration (spitting up); a decrease in activity; or a lack of interest in eating,” says Dr. Zoran. “Any animal that’s having trouble breathing will be less interested in moving around or eating.”
Other signs to look for, as mentioned above, include red, watery eyes, increased sneezing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and lethargy.
Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any changes in your dog or cat’s behavior or health during periods of poor air quality due to wildfire smoke.
PROTECT YOUR ANIMAL BY LIMITING EXPOSURE
When air quality is poor due to wildfire smoke, the best way to protect yourself and your dog or cat is to limit exposure to it. Dr. Zoran advises the best protection is to leave the area if possible. If this isn’t feasible, and your house isn’t in the fire zone, follow shelter in place protocols.
- Keep your dog or cat inside with the doors and windows closed.
- Use air conditioning with clean filters (pleated, with a MERV 13 rating), and add air purifiers to help filter out more particles.
- To help keep indoor air clean, AirNow advises not to fry or broil food, vacuum, burn candles, smoke tobacco products, or use fireplaces or wood stoves. These activities add particulates to the air.
- Limit outdoor activities for your dog to short, necessary potty breaks — better yet, set up an indoor potty area. Save running, hiking, and other high-intensity activities for when air quality improves.
- Keep your dog or cat entertained with low-key playtimes, interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and healthy, high-value, long-lasting treats.
- Feed a high quality, nutritionally balanced diet. “That’s the answer to keeping animals healthy at all times,” says Dr. Zoran. “Whether they’re living their normal day-to-day life or being impacted by a stressful event, nutrition is the key to healthy body response.”
- Keep your dog or cat hydrated By making sure they drink enough water. This helps strengthen all mucous membranes, the body’s best defense against irritants. Dry airways retain particulate matter, including in the lungs, which can exacerbate smoke exposure symptoms.
- Another tip is to rinse your animal’s eyes or nose, or at least use a damp cloth to wipe away any accumulated particulates and prevent irritation.
CAN YOUR DOG OR CAT WEAR A MASK?
“There are no effective masks for dogs or cats,” says Dr. Zoran. “N95 masks must be fitted to the face to be effective, and standard masks do not remove the smallest particles. Also, attempting to put a mask on your animal will likely not only be ineffective, but highly stressful.”
MORE TIPS — STAY PREPARED, AWARE, AND INFORMED
- If you live in an area prone to wildfires, be prepared for emergency. Make sure your dog or cat is microchipped and/or has other ID, assemble an animal evacuation kit in a waterproof container and keep it near your exit door. Also have a travel crate ready, and know where to look for your dog or cat if he gets scared and hides.
- Stay informed. Tune in to local news for fire and smoke safety, health advisories, and any evacuation orders. Follow the instructions of local officials about when and where to evacuate. Check the daily air quality forecast for your area. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a color-coded system that classifies air quality from Good (Green) to Hazardous (Maroon) with values from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI number, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. AirNow is a great resource for monitoring air quality and alerts in your locale
Wildfires will continue to happen and will most likely get worse. There might not be one in your immediate area but wildfire smoke can travel long distances from other states and countries and stay in the air for days or weeks. Air quality alerts should be taken seriously by everyone in affected areas to protect you and your animals.
Ramona Marek is a writer who has been published in many national and international print and digital magazines. She is a former director of the Cat Writers’ Association and has been a professional member since 2007. She is also one of a handful of non-veterinarian members of the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians, and a supporting member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).