The smoke and ash from wildfires pose a known, immediate threat to human health, and the risk can linger even after the wildfire smoke has cleared and the air quality index has improved. And if you are personally concerned about exposure to the outdoor air, then it’s safe to say that your dogs and cats may be at risk as well.
“As long as they have lungs—so dogs, cats, people—it’s going to be somewhat similar,” says Lisa Lippman, director of virtual medicine for Bond Vet Clinic.
Dogs and cats with pre-existing respiratory conditions are more likely to have breathing problems as a result of polluted air. “Bulldogs, pugs, Himalayan cats—breeds that have a flat face—have breathing problems in general,” says Kim Van Beuren, a medical director at Bond Vet Clinic. You should also be on watch for pediatric and geriatric cats and dogs because they are all especially susceptible to smoke inhalation.
But all pets with lungs are at risk of having an adverse reaction to air that’s filled with smoke. Symptoms include red, watery eyes, nasal discharge, and abnormal, short breathing. They may not want to move their bodies much, instead putting all of their energy into maintaining their breath. Like humans, they’ll also cough and sneeze. If their breathing becomes too gulp-like, call your vet immediately as it could be a heart issue.
The good news is that in general, the precautions that you might be taking to protect yourself in these conditions are the same ones that’ll protect your four-legged friends. But there are some additional things to keep in mind — so we connected with veterinary experts with over 100 years of collective experience, including one based in Los Angeles, and asked our internal experts for advice for keeping your pets safe during an air quality crisis.
