Wednesday, August 30, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
Wildfire smoke can
affect your pets
We aren’t used to smoke
hanging thickly in the air,
and many folks are natu-
rally concerned about the
health implications of liv-
ing right next to one of the
worst fires in the nation.
People know that breath-
ing in a lot of smoke is
not good for you, but how
much should you worry
about your pets?
Wildland fire smoke is
made up of a complex mix-
ture of gases and fine par-
ticles produced when wood
and other organic materials
burn. The biggest health
threat from smoke is from
those fine particles. These
microscopic particles can
penetrate deep into your
lungs. They can cause a
range of health problems,
from burning eyes and a
runny nose to aggravated
chronic heart and lung
disease.
Animal owners should
be aware that wildfire
smoke advisories, issued
by county districts for peo-
ple, apply to animals, too.
Generally, the worse
the visibility, the worse the
smoke. Visibility can help
you gauge wildfire smoke
levels.
If you are experiencing
stinging or burning in your
eyes or throat, or notice a
heavy smoke smell in the
air, your dog or cat is expe-
riencing symptoms as well.
Keep your furry friends
inside as much as possible.
Try exercising your active
dog on a treadmill or play
catch indoors instead of
walking him around out-
side. In the house, keep
your windows closed and
use your air conditioner
instead.
“Advisories meant to
caution people to avoid
heavy work outdoors and
to remain indoors as much
as possible, also should
be applied to your pets,”
explained Dr. Robert
Dyke, a member of the
veterinary faculty in the
community at Washington
State University’s (WSU)
Ve t e r i n a r y Te a c h i n g
Hospital.
Pet parents who really
need to walk or exercise
pets outdoors should look
for times of the day when
the smoke settles as much
as possible.
According to Dyke,
birds need to remain
indoors as much as possi-
ble during the highest level
of poor air quality advi-
sories because pet birds
are extremely susceptible
to respiratory problems
from smoke particles in
the air.
Smoke is known for
affecting respiratory condi-
tions that affect the lungs,
such as feline asthma.
Smoke can trigger asthma
attacks in humans and ani-
mals. So, if your cat has a
history of this condition,
you should keep an eye on
her for any signs.
For animals that can-
not be sheltered indoors
such as horses or livestock,
smoke can also increase
respiratory distress if they
have been diagnosed with
lung or heart disease.
So, just like humans
with lung conditions,
smoke in the air represents
an increased hazard for
animals.
High concentrations of
smoke particles can also
alter the immune system
and reduce the ability of
the lungs to remove for-
eign materials, such as
pollen and bacteria, to
which horses are normally
exposed.
Protecting horses from
air pollution: Limit their
exercise when smoke is
visible. Don’t have your
horse do activities that
increase the airflow in
and out of the lungs; this
can trigger bronchocon-
striction (narrowing of
the small airways in the
lungs). Provide plenty of
fresh water close to where
your horse eats. Horses
drink most of their water
within two hours of eating
hay, so having water close
to the feeder increases
water consumption. Water
keeps the airways moist
and facilitates clearance
of inhaled particulate
matter.
HEPA filters are effec-
tive at filtering smoke
and dust particles and can
really improve air quality
in your home.
Other than increased
risk of complications from
existing health conditions,
the smoke from Sisters’
Milli Fire is unlikely to
have long-term health
repercussions for your pet.
But if you have a pet with
a lung or heart condition,
avoid strenuous exercise
until the air clears up.
Seek medical advice
from your veterinarian
if you see any signs of
respiratory distress such
as coughing or increased
breathing effort.
23
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