When Canadian wildfires sent smoke across the northern and eastern United States in mid-July, public health officials triggered air quality alerts and handed out KN95 masks in cities including New York City. That guidance, essentially to get indoors and stay there, applies to pets just as much as it does to people.
According to Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, Director of Pet Health Information at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York City, the logic is straightforward: pets breathe the same air we do, and in some cases breathe worse air, because they are closer to the ground.
“The number one thing pet owners should do during an air quality alert is keep their pet indoors. If we're moving ourselves indoors, why would we not move our pets indoors as well?”
Who Is Most at Risk
Not all pets respond to poor air quality the same way. Some breeds and species face considerably higher risk.
Brachycephalic dogs, including various bulldog breeds and pugs, are more susceptible because their anatomy already makes breathing harder. Small breed dogs like Pomeranians and poodles are prone to collapsing trachea, a condition where the airway flattens rather than holding its shape. In normal conditions, these dogs manage. When the air is heavy, humid, and particulate-laden, breathing becomes genuinely difficult.
Indoor cats with asthma may cough more or show signs of respiratory distress. Birds are particularly sensitive to air quality changes and should be monitored closely.
Hohenhaus noted one specific risk that pet owners often miss: humid conditions reduce the effectiveness of panting. "When the air is humid, panting becomes ineffective, so it's very easy for pets to overheat," she told USA TODAY. That combination, heat and poor air, stresses pets in ways that escalate quickly.
Warning Signs That Warrant Immediate Care
Hohenhaus is clear about when to seek emergency care: if your pet's respiratory rate exceeds 40 breaths per minute at rest, that is an ER-level concern. Persistent coughing with no ability to catch their breath is another signal that medication may be needed.
For pet owners with high-risk animals, she recommends counting your pet's resting respiratory rate on a normal day so you have a baseline to compare against when conditions deteriorate.
Outdoor trips should be kept to the absolute minimum, no walks around the block. "There's no reason for a trip to the park today," Hohenhaus said during the July alert.
Practical Steps for Keeping Indoor Air Clean
The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center's guidance during smoke events focuses on controlling what you can inside:
- Close windows and doors to limit outdoor air infiltration
- Set your HVAC system to "on" rather than "auto" for continuous air cycling
- Run an air purifier with a HEPA filter if one is available
For pets with pre-existing respiratory conditions, this indoor air management is not optional. It is a practical health intervention that can prevent a manageable situation from becoming an emergency.