Managing pet health during times of poor air quality
Fire safety is important for the entire family, furry members included! Here are some pointers to help manage pet health during times of poor air quality because of a fire:
- Those pets already afflicted by pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions may be affected more so by fire-related threats like poor air quality & smoke inhalation; visit AirNow.gov for daily updates on air quality in your region
- Smoke inhalation may not be obvious to pet owners, but may be affecting your pet unknowingly. Symptoms may include: coughing, gagging, breathing difficulties, eye irritation, watery eyes, runny nose, wheezing, fatigue, weakness, disorientation, stumbling, decreased appetite, decreased thirst, & lethargy
- Smoke inhalation prevention includes: keep pets indoors, keep windows shut, spend brief moments outside for elimination purposes only, have water available always, & reduce indoor pollution with dust-, fire- or smoke-producing products (candles, vacuuming, wood stoves, fireplaces, dusting, etc. should be avoided)
- For animals that are outdoors, the following is advised: limit activities (e.g. exercise), have water available always, minimize dust exposure (feed low-dust/dust-free feeds, sprinkle or mist the holding areas, etc.), allow at least 4 to 6 weeks for animals to return back to normal after the threat has been eliminated, and contact the State Veterinarian for aid with animal transport if evacuation is required
