From KTVN
by Jefferson Tyler
All the smoke out there is dangerous to people’s health, but that’s not all. We spoke to a vet, who says pets can have health problems from the smoke as well.
As smoke hangs over the Reno area before Abby Peterson took the dogs out for a walk at the Rancho San Rafael Dog Park, there’s one thing she had to do.
“I did look at the weather earlier today. It said unhealthy air quality. But I didn’t really think about what it did to the dogs,” said Peterson.
“Our pets just like us are sensitive to the amount of smoke in the air. And they can have more problems just like people. Especially if they have underlying health issues,” said SPCA of Northern Nevada Lead Veterinarian Dr. Christina Hansen.
Petersen has 3 dogs, two of them have underlying health conditions. The big guy Ozzy has an allergy.
“Maybe the smoke irritates his skin a little bit,” said Peterson.
The much smaller Bentley has a more serious issue.
“He has an issue with his trachea. So when he starts to play around, run around a little bit, he starts to cough,” said Peterson.
Hot weather can make the smoke’s affect even worse.
“Hotter it is, the harder it is for them to cool off. and they cool by panting. so in a sense they may be inhaling more smoke than you and I. So they can be more affected by the smoke than we can,” said Dr. Hansen.
Pets may be eager to get outside, but the smoke may end up being too much. Animals have a better sense of smell than most people. So what can people do to protect their pets from the bad air?
“It’s a good idea for them to stay inside as much as possible right now. If they do go out, maybe minimize their activity levels. Maybe not going for that 5 mile run,” said Dr. Hansen.
It’s also recommended that owners give their pets plenty of water to keep down panting, and the inhalation of the smoke.
