Animals and Air Quality

On Air Quality Alert days, we are becoming more familiar with how to take precautions and still go about the work/fun of daily life. This past blog covers where to find air quality readings and forecasts and how it affects humans. Another aspect to consider is how animals & birds who live alongside us are also affected by poor air quality. From housepets to grazing animals to wild birds, knowledge is power when it comes to doing what you can to help animal friends. While it is not practical to move all types of animals indoors, a universal tip is ensuring all animals & birds have access to fresh drinking water during stressful times.

Housepets

As expected, the main concern for housepets are those who spend a lot of time outside. But even if your favorite pup only ventures out for short walks or potty breaks, there are signs to watch for.

Signs an animal may be adversely affected by smoke include:

–Trouble breathing

–Irritated eyes

–Nasal discharge

–Reduced appetite/thirst (due to irritated mouth/throat)

Poor air quality can be especially tough for animal breeds with flat faces (bulldog, pug, Persian cats) who are more susceptible to breathing problems in the first place. During such times, limit time outdoors or schedule outdoor time when air quality is likely to be the best (i.e. early morning). For pets who are outdoors most of the time, even moving them to a garage or other semi-enclosed space is probably a good idea. In all cases, just like for humans, keeping doors and windows closed is preferred. Even with the house closed up, there are some strategic ways to move air indoors, as outlined in this blog.

It may be a good idea to provide extra entertainment for your pet if there is extended indoor time. Check out this article from the Animal Humane Society for more suggestions.

Farm and Working Animals

Just like for humans and housepets, limiting physical activity for farm and working animals in poor air quality can make a big difference. Some other tips include limiting dust exposure (which may be acceptable in times of good air quality), by switching to low-dust feed or misting livestock in holding areas. 

Similar to outdoor pets, outdoor birds, whether domestic fowl or on a farm, may benefit from a temporary move indoors to a garage or basement. Find still more tips and ways to prepare (in case of the need for evacuation) in this Wildfire Smoke Fact Sheet. The fact sheet is a joint effort from the Department of Health & Human Services, CDC, U.S. Forest Service, American Veterinary Medical Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Wild Birds

Birds take in nearly double the amount of oxygen with each breath compared to mammals! Birds are highly sensitive to air pollution. As explained by expert, Dr. Olivia Sanderfoot, the avian respiratory system supports incredibly efficient gas exchange, which is needed to supply the high oxygen demand required for flight. But, this also means that they are more vulnerable to toxic gasses. They also lack many of the mechanisms that mammals use to clear particles, like smoke particulates, from their airways.

Dr. Sanderfoot is the leader of Project Phoenix which is a citizen science effort to study the response of birds to smoke. Although its geographic focus is the West Coast of the United States, it is fascinating (and sobering) to think about all we have to learn. Wild birds, like so much of nature, seem to find ways to adapt, but that does not mean we cannot help. Making sure to keep a clean water supply alongside your bird feeders helps birds overall, but especially in times of poor air quality. 

One last tip: If you live in an area that’s at high-risk for wildfire, you may want to take a deep dive into wildfire protection. The Firewise program from the National Fire Protection Association has this on preparing homes for wildfire.

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