Fire season is in full swing, with wildfires blazing in a dozen U.S. states and Canada. Wildfire smoke often leads to poor air quality that can negatively impact humans and animals alike, so many veterinarians and health officials are urging the public to protect pets.
The early signs a dog is being affected by wildfire smoke can mirror some of the symptoms of minor seasonal allergies in dogs, like a runny nose and eyes. But if they develop respiratory difficulties, it’s time to consult your veterinarian, according to Mike Walters, DVM, MS, DACVECC, medical director at ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospitals – Los Angeles in Culver City, California.
“If a pet has a predisposing illness — pulmonary disease, lung disease, asthma, airway disease, something like that — that puts them at risk,” he said. “Those pets are probably going to be showing clinical signs earlier on than an otherwise healthy dog or cat.”
When wildfires burn homes as well as vegetation, the smoke contains additional toxins. Dogs might show respiratory distress by gagging or coughing, as though they’re trying to clear their throat. It can lead to labored breathing.
“It doesn’t take a lot of energy for a normal, healthy dog to breathe, but as they become distressed, they’re putting more energy, more effort into their breathing,” he said. “You start seeing them really working to bring air in and out. Anybody could probably recognize, ‘Hey — my dog is having a problem breathing.’ But if cats get to that point, that can be a very serious problem.”
Cats are usually “quiet” about their breathing, so when they have respiratory issues, they may experience fatigue, and reduced thirst and appetite, Dr. Walters noted.
“Maybe they start becoming weak, not wanting to move around, not doing their normal activity. And then further signs might be they’re becoming disoriented, they might stumble,” he said. “Those are very serious signs. Those cats need to be seen by a veterinarian sooner than later.”
How To Protect Dogs And Cats From Wildfire Smoke
The most important way to protect dogs and cats from wildfire smoke is to keep them inside, according to Dr. Walters.
“That’s first and foremost,” he said. “Limit their outdoor activity to only go to the bathroom. We’re not going on walks. We’re not running around playing ball.”
To help keep pets safe from wildfire smoke, he also recommends:
- Keep windows closed.
- If appropriate, turn on the air conditioning.
- Consider using a HEPA filter in an air purifier.
- Monitor air quality reports to gauge the safest times to be outside.
- Ideally, bring outdoor dogs inside your home, not the garage.
While being indoors obviously won’t be a change for indoor cats — keeping cats indoors protects them from many dangers, including bird flu — dogs will need extra enrichment activities to compensate for not getting their typical outdoor exercise.
So this is a prime time to practice positive training to engage a dog’s mind and give their energy somewhere to go, Dr. Walters suggested. For instance, family members can hide in different rooms with kibble or dog treats to take turns calling “Come!” and rewarding the dog for a successful find.
You can also play with toys together and, of course, bank some extra snuggle time if your dog or cat is a cuddler.
One activity you should not pursue: putting a mask made for humans, like an N95, on a dog or cat. Masks are fitted for flatter human faces and won’t work on an animal.
“If you get to the point where you feel like as mask is needed for you or for your dog or cat, you need to move,” Dr. Walters said. “You need to get out of the area. That’s probably not a safe environment for anybody to stay in and breathe.”
Preparing To Evacuate Due To Wildfire Smoke Or A Fire Itself
If you need to evacuate due to wildfires, be sure to bring your pets. Last year when a wildfire threatened their home, Dr. Walters and his wife were able to quickly evacuate with their four dogs and a conure (small parrot).
The key is preparation since conditions can change so quickly, he emphasized. Be sure each pet is microchipped and your contact information is up to date with the microchip registry in case you’re separated.
Pack a “go bag” with everything your pet might need, including medications, food, water bowls, harnesses, leashes, gallons of water, bedding and favorite toys, as well as a copy of their shot records (often printed on an animal hospital invoice).
Keep the go bags for your pets and other members of the family in an easily accessible place, and make evacuation plans ahead of time.
“Where are you going to go? What are you going to bring? How are you going to escape? What different routes do you have? Ask yourself, ‘Do I have all the things that I need? Do I have a go bag for myself? Do I have a go bag for my pets? Is it all someplace easy to get to? Is there an emergency veterinary clinic that I’m heading toward that I could use if I needed to? Do I have gas in my car? Is it serviced?’” he said. “You need to have a plan.”
