A lot of times when we get lots of smoke in the area, we think about how it could impact people. But according to veterinary experts your pets are just as likely to be affected by it as you are.
Our pets can suffer the same problems we can from heavy smoke. And just like us some more sensitive groups of animals may be affected more than others such as pets with breathing problems.
"The big one would be cats, asthma, it can be really deadly for them," said Jeannie Wood, associate veterinarian for Options Veterinary Care. "And dogs that have allergic bronchitis or any type of inflammatory lung disease, it's going to hurt them too, significantly."
Wood says when smoke like this comes in, almost every day she sees owners bringing their pets in the clinic. Most of them being cats that are already asthmatic.
She tells us if you notice your dog coughing it could be due to bronchitis. She also says cats do not cough unless they have asthma, so if they are coughing, she recommends you bring them into the vet as soon as possible for immediate treatment.
If pets are left untreated inflammation could get worse and start causing their lungs to close up.
Wood says the best thing to do is limit your pet's time outside in the smoke including walking your dog,
"I would probably limit it to about five, ten minutes and if they start before then showing signs of exercise intolerance, problems breathing, get them inside immediately," she said.
Wood says make sure you're leaving your doors and windows shut at home to prevent smoke from getting inside. The same thing goes for leaving windows up on cars. Use that air conditioning instead to keep them cool and safe.
