Wildfires have swept through the West Coast<\/a>, affecting air quality across the country. Humans aren\u2019t the only ones we need we need to worry about. Smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion can be dangerous to dogs, too.<\/p>\n \u201cSmoke is an air pollutant just like anything else, whether it be car exhaust or fossil fuels. As an air pollutant, all of us, animal or human, should limit our exposure,\u201d says Jennifer Sergeeff, DVM, DACVIM, internist and medical director at BluePearl Speciality and Emergency Pet Hospital<\/a> in Daly City, California., whose practice and home were in the smoke zone of the fires during their peak.<\/p>\n The consequences of smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion can range from discomfort to death. Dr. Sergeeff shared signs and symptoms to look out for and how to help your pet safely get through a wildfire.<\/p>\n Photo: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Most dogs are trained to potty outside and many get their exercise from walking. Dr. Sergeeff says it\u2019s OK to continue to walk them, but advises proceeding with caution.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can go outside for short periods of time to [go potty] on their normal time, but don\u2019t spend an excessive amount of time outside,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says.<\/p>\n What does excessive mean? There\u2019s no magic number.<\/p>\n \u201cTen to 20 minutes is probably OK \u2014\u00a0use common sense,\u201d Sergeeff says. \u201cDon\u2019t take your dog to the beach or dog park and play Frisbee for 45 minutes when the air is red or black.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Sergeeff suggests getting walks in before the heat of the day, such as at sunrise and after sunset, to prevent a potentially deadly combination of smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.<\/p>\n \u201cPanting is the way dogs release heat and so if their lungs are compromised from smoke and it\u2019s excessively hot that can domino together,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s where you can get into serious issues like heat exhaustion.\u201d<\/p>\n Pay close attention<\/a> to local air quality reports before heading out.<\/p>\n Dogs who have inhaled smoke may have watery, red eyes, itchy faces, coughing or excessive clearing of their throats and trouble breathing. They may act agitated or have slow reaction time, and some dogs are more at risk for complications.<\/p>\n \u201cAnimals who may have pre-existing lung or heart disease may be prone to worsening cough<\/a>, wheezing, almost asthmatic-like symptoms,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says.<\/p>\n Breathing difficulty may get gradually worse during the first 24 hours following smoke inhalation.<\/p>\n To prevent your dog collapsing from heatstroke, make sure cool water is always available. Photo: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Particularly in California, where the wildfires coincided with near-100-degree Fahrenheit weather, pet parents also need to be aware of heat exhaustion.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main [signs] we see are they will start panting, usually because they are trying to dispel heat,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says. \u201cThen they may get bright red gums. They could collapse. They might drink a lot of water and vomit it up. We often see them start to stumble.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if you take precautions, your dog may inhale smoke or suffer from heat exhaustion<\/a> \u2014 you can only control so much when Mother Nature is involved. Take steps to help your dog quickly. If you\u2019re exercising and the dog is displaying signs of heat exhaustion, stop the activity. Then, help your dog cool off.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re at home, one thing you can do, you can put them in the back and hose them down,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says. \u201cThat\u2019s conductive cooling and then seek veterinary attention. A lot of times, they will need to be stabilized and more actively cooled.\u201d<\/p>\n The vet can help dogs suffering from smoke inhalation with oxygen therapy, but some may need to be intubated, a procedure that involves placing a tube in the mouth and down to the trachea to keep the airway open.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion aren\u2019t the only issues with going outside. Predatory animals, like bobcats and mountain lions, have been displaced and have headed down hills to get away from the fires. Dr. Sergeeff says monitoring dogs who go out in the yard, particularly smaller breeds.<\/p>\n \u201cClose off the door so they don\u2019t go out to do their morning pee and run into a bobcat,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n You may be able to find a pet-friendly shelter, but if your dog isn\u2019t great with other dogs or people, look into other options.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a lot of evacuees do is stay with friends, rent an Airbnb or go to a pet-friendly hotel,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says.<\/p>\n Featured photo: Photo: Raul Ortega Marinas\/Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n Read Next: <\/strong>How to Navigate a Natural Disaster With Your Dog<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The post How to Keep Your Dog Safe During the Wildfires<\/a> by Beth Ann Mayer<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post How to Keep Your Dog Safe During the Wildfires<\/a> by Beth Ann Mayer<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Wildfires have swept through the West Coast<\/a>, affecting air quality across the country. Humans aren\u2019t the only ones we need we need to worry about. Smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion can be dangerous to dogs, too.<\/p>\n \u201cSmoke is an air pollutant just like anything else, whether it be car exhaust or fossil fuels. As an air pollutant, all of us, animal or human, should limit our exposure,\u201d says Jennifer Sergeeff, DVM, DACVIM, internist and medical director at BluePearl Speciality and Emergency Pet Hospital<\/a> in Daly City, California., whose practice and home were in the smoke zone of the fires during their peak.<\/p>\n The consequences of smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion can range from discomfort to death. Dr. Sergeeff shared signs and symptoms to look out for and how to help your pet safely get through a wildfire.<\/p>\n Photo: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Most dogs are trained to potty outside and many get their exercise from walking. Dr. Sergeeff says it\u2019s OK to continue to walk them, but advises proceeding with caution.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can go outside for short periods of time to [go potty] on their normal time, but don\u2019t spend an excessive amount of time outside,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says.<\/p>\n What does excessive mean? There\u2019s no magic number.<\/p>\n \u201cTen to 20 minutes is probably OK \u2014\u00a0use common sense,\u201d Sergeeff says. \u201cDon\u2019t take your dog to the beach or dog park and play Frisbee for 45 minutes when the air is red or black.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Sergeeff suggests getting walks in before the heat of the day, such as at sunrise and after sunset, to prevent a potentially deadly combination of smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.<\/p>\n \u201cPanting is the way dogs release heat and so if their lungs are compromised from smoke and it\u2019s excessively hot that can domino together,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s where you can get into serious issues like heat exhaustion.\u201d<\/p>\n Pay close attention<\/a> to local air quality reports before heading out.<\/p>\n Dogs who have inhaled smoke may have watery, red eyes, itchy faces, coughing or excessive clearing of their throats and trouble breathing. They may act agitated or have slow reaction time, and some dogs are more at risk for complications.<\/p>\n \u201cAnimals who may have pre-existing lung or heart disease may be prone to worsening cough<\/a>, wheezing, almost asthmatic-like symptoms,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says.<\/p>\n Breathing difficulty may get gradually worse during the first 24 hours following smoke inhalation.<\/p>\n To prevent your dog collapsing from heatstroke, make sure cool water is always available. Photo: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Particularly in California, where the wildfires coincided with near-100-degree Fahrenheit weather, pet parents also need to be aware of heat exhaustion.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main [signs] we see are they will start panting, usually because they are trying to dispel heat,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says. \u201cThen they may get bright red gums. They could collapse. They might drink a lot of water and vomit it up. We often see them start to stumble.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if you take precautions, your dog may inhale smoke or suffer from heat exhaustion<\/a> \u2014 you can only control so much when Mother Nature is involved. Take steps to help your dog quickly. If you\u2019re exercising and the dog is displaying signs of heat exhaustion, stop the activity. Then, help your dog cool off.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re at home, one thing you can do, you can put them in the back and hose them down,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says. \u201cThat\u2019s conductive cooling and then seek veterinary attention. A lot of times, they will need to be stabilized and more actively cooled.\u201d<\/p>\n The vet can help dogs suffering from smoke inhalation with oxygen therapy, but some may need to be intubated, a procedure that involves placing a tube in the mouth and down to the trachea to keep the airway open.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion aren\u2019t the only issues with going outside. Predatory animals, like bobcats and mountain lions, have been displaced and have headed down hills to get away from the fires. Dr. Sergeeff says monitoring dogs who go out in the yard, particularly smaller breeds.<\/p>\n \u201cClose off the door so they don\u2019t go out to do their morning pee and run into a bobcat,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n You may be able to find a pet-friendly shelter, but if your dog isn\u2019t great with other dogs or people, look into other options.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a lot of evacuees do is stay with friends, rent an Airbnb or go to a pet-friendly hotel,\u201d Dr. Sergeeff says.<\/p>\n Featured photo: Photo: Raul Ortega Marinas\/Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n Read Next: <\/strong>How to Navigate a Natural Disaster With Your Dog<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The post How to Keep Your Dog Safe During the Wildfires<\/a> by Beth Ann Mayer<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/2002_pugWalk_getty1010314330.png\")
<\/p>\nCan I walk my dog?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What are the signs of smoke inhalation in dogs?<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/2002_WaterBottle_Getty589431650.png\")
<\/p>\nWhat are the signs of heat exhaustion?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What to do if you think your dog has an issue<\/b><\/h3>\n
Be careful of wildlife<\/b><\/h3>\n
What happens if you have to evacuate with your dog?<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nCan I walk my dog?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What are the signs of smoke inhalation in dogs?<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nWhat are the signs of heat exhaustion?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What to do if you think your dog has an issue<\/b><\/h3>\n
Be careful of wildlife<\/b><\/h3>\n
What happens if you have to evacuate with your dog?<\/b><\/h3>\n