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Do you check the weather before heading out? How about air quality? Bad air quality is not something you can see, but you may be surprised to learn how the quality of the air can affect both you and your dog.
Let’s learn more about how air quality affects pets and what you can do to minimize this.
How Does Air Quality Affect Pets?
Poor air quality can stem from many reasons, including poor environmental practices and wildfires. Here are three ways that it can hurt your pet.
Increased Risk for Illness
Like humans, pets are susceptible to pulmonary issues when exposed to poor air. Inhaling bad air can cause long-term effects.
Altered Gut Composition
A dog’s gut health is directly impacted by poor air quality. Air pollution causes less microbial diversity in their microbiome. Lowered microbial diversity puts your dog at risk of diseases and affects their ability to digest food.
Intensified Illnesses
Poor air quality impacts your dog’s quality of life. Canines suffering from asthma will have an even more challenging time dealing with the illness. Tightened airways make it harder for breathing.
Signs Your Dog is Affected by Poor Air Quality
If your dog is coughing, sneezing, or acting sluggish, it might be because of the inhaled air. Poor air quality, pollutants, smoke, and allergens can turn a joyful walk into a hidden health risk.
You might not notice the symptoms after one walk. But continued exposure to low air quality will result in:
- Coughing or wheezing
- Sneezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Nasal discharge or congestion
- Eye or nose irritation
How to Keep Your Dog Entertained On a Bad Air Day?
Dogs need to get daily physical activity and mental stimulation. Things are easy when you can go out for a walk and play outside. But when the air quality drops, you have to find creative ways to entertain your pup. The good news is there are plenty of puzzle toys and games you can play for mental stimulation. For example, snuffle mats are a great way to use sniffing for mental stimulation.
If you have an active dog, you might consider investing in a treadmill. Or make it your next DIY project.
How to Check Air Quality in Your State?
Most weather apps use the same ranking system, making it simple, easy, quick, and convenient to check before heading out. Google Maps also provides some insight into air quality.
Air quality is measured in PM (particulate matter), also known as particle pollution. The lower the PM, the better the air quality.
If you want to check the air quality for a particular state, you can do that using the state’s application. AirNow system automatically generates a list for every state, city, and province.
How to Keep Your Pets Safe from Poor Air Quality
Keeping your pet safe should be your highest priority. Sometimes it involves investing in more tech and equipment for your home. Yet, sometimes, it can be as simple as ventilating your home. Here are five ways to keep your pets safe from poor indoor air quality.
Ventilate Your Home
When the air quality outside is good, open your windows to ventilate your home. Let the air circulate in your room, reducing the risk of pollutants staying in your home. Use a ventilation system when cooking and baking to redirect the fumes and smoke outside.
Use Pet-Friendly Cleaning Products
Cleaning products and pesticides release chemicals and toxins into the air. These toxins can be harmful to your pet’s health. When possible, use pet-friendly cleaning products.
Vacuum regularly
Pets can bring pollutants from the outside. You should vacuum your home regularly to minimize dust in your home. If you want to go an extra step, buy a cleaner with a HEPA filter which is more effective in trapping particulate matter. Or invest in a robot vacuum and schedule it to do the work for you.
Close Windows When Air Quality is Poor
You cannot control air pollution outside, but you can protect yourself. It might be a basic and logical step, but we have to reinforce it. Keep the windows shut when the air quality index is poor.
See also
Use Air Filters
In the last few years, air filters have become a popular commodity. They were quite popular during the Covid-19 pandemic. A HEPA air filter can trap many of the air pollutants. You can rest easy knowing you are breathing safe air.
Dog Breeds at a Higher Risk
Certain breeds are at a higher risk than others. Brachycephalic or short-muzzle breeds are more susceptible to poor quality. Brachycephaly is the shape of a skull shorter than average in its species. Over the years, breeders have bred dogs to look cosmetically desirable. But that has made these dogs’ quality of life poorer. For example, dogs like bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, shih tzu, boxers, shar pei, cane corso, and bullmastiffs.
Owning any of these breathing-impaired dogs calls for special care. They shouldn’t be out for long periods. Pet owners should be careful not to overexercise them. Their cosmetic appearance of short snouts with flat faces might look adorable on Instagram, but the vet bills for breathing issues can pile up.
Additionally, dogs with pre-existing conditions like asthma, heart disease, and others affecting the heart and lungs are at a higher risk of poor air quality.
What is Acceptable Air Quality?
Generally speaking, air quality is at its best in the morning. However, you should always check local reports.
Acceptable air quality is anything under 35 micrograms per cubic meter. If the air quality is above 50 micrograms per cubic meter, you should keep your pets inside. Wait for the air quality to improve and then go out.
Final Thoughts
Air quality concerns all of us, furry friends involved. It directly impacts your dog’s health and well-being, leading to respiratory issues, digestive issues, and worsened symptoms for pets with pre-existing conditions like asthma. We cannot control outdoor pollution, but we can always take steps to protect our pets. Start by monitoring air quality and improving indoor ventilation.
Because dogs need to get some running, check the air before letting your dog run freely. On days with poor air quality, keep your pup on a leash. Running at high speed could come at the detriment of your pet’s health. Our furry friends do not have the lung capacity of humans. Intense activity can lead to trouble breathing during poor air quality.
Stay informed, make small adjustments, and you can ensure your dog remains healthy.
