How to keep your pets safe from wildfire smoke

As wildfire smoke makes an expected but unwelcome comeback to Toronto, it’s important to take precautions not only for ourselves but for our furry friends as well.

Smoke can pose serious health risks to pets, just as it does to humans, and the Toronto Humane Society (THS) is providing some guidelines on how to keep them safe.

“The first really important thing is just to stay informed,” says Greg Ratelle from THS. “[Make sure we’re] following Environment Canada, making sure we understand when air quality is the worst and then making sound decisions for our little ones,” he says.

Pets need the same protection as humans, so staying indoors as much as possible, closing doors and windows and using air purifiers will be beneficial for them as well. But while animals like cats, rabbits and hamsters may fare well without outdoor activities, dogs must be walked.

Ratelle offers the following tips to keep them safe if you must go outside:

• Reduce exposure by taking shorter walks, more frequently if required
• Take walks in the early morning hours or at night when the air quality is likely better
• Restrict outdoor play and exercise for elderly dogs, those with pre-existing health conditions or brachycephalics — dogs with shortened or smooshed faces like English bulldogs and pugs.

To compensate for a lack of outdoor exercise and play, Ratelle says it’s vital to enrich your pet’s indoor environment so that they don’t become restless, stressed or destructive from boredom.

• Use puzzle feeders to make meal times more interesting, time-consuming and exertive
• If space permits, play tug or fetch with your dog to burn off excess energy
• Work on training commands like “sit” and “down” or tricks like rolling over and high fives

“Just have fun with them. Engage them mentally when you can’t necessarily let them run around and get that physical burnout,” says Ratelle.

Ratelle says smaller animals like birds or hamsters might struggle a bit more with poor air quality.

With all pets, it’s important to watch for signs of distress like redness in the eyes, coughing and wheezing. Not all symptoms are obvious or present externally, so staying alert and vigilant is key.

“Pets can’t tell us or talk to us, so just changes in their disposition is always an indicator for their wellbeing,” he says.

“You know your pet. You know them well. You know exactly how they should be and act every day to day. If you see a difference from that baseline in their disposition and how they’re acting or their appetite — all those types of things — that’s where you want to kind of raise an eyebrow, ask some questions yourself and certainly consult with your veterinarian.”

Poor air quality in Toronto is expected to last until about Friday morning. Click here for the updated Air Quality Health Index from Environment Canada.