As wildfire smoke engulfs Michigan, officials are urging residents to limit outdoor time as much as possible — and the same advice goes for your beloved pets.
“As irritating as smoke can be to people, it can cause health problems for animals as well. Smoke from wildfires and other large blazes affects pets, horses, livestock and wildlife. If you can see or feel the effects of smoke yourself, you also should take precautions to keep your animals — both pets and livestock — safe,” the American Veterinary Medical Association said.
Both Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and Upper peninsulas are experiencing hazardous air conditions, meaning everyone in those areas could feel symptoms such as coughing or wheezing.
The smoke — from active wildfires in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota — may linger into Saturday, July 18, according to the National Weather Service.
To protect your cat, dog, bird, horse or any animal that may be vulnerable to the smoke there are ways to minimize their health risk.
Here’s how to protect or pets/livestock from wildfire smoke in Michigan:
How can I protect my pets from the wildfire smoke in Michigan?
Here’s what to do with your pets while wildfire smoke lingers in Michigan, according to the Humane Rescue Alliance and the AVMA:
Pets with heart or lung disease, who are older, and dog breeds who are known to struggle with breathing (such as French bulldogs, pekingese, pugs, Boston terriers and boxers) are especially at risk to feel the adverse health affects from the smoke, according to the Humane Rescue Alliance.
How can I protect my livestock from the wildfire smoke in Michigan?
Here’s what to protect livestock, according to the AVMA:
What symptoms do I need to watch out for?
Pets who are feeling symptoms from the wildfire smoke may show these warning signs, per the AVMA:
How bad is the air quality in Michigan right now? Air quality map
The map below displays the current air quality at monitoring sites in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Air monitoring sites are color-coded based on the pollutant (ozone or particulate matter) with the highest value. Particles that are less than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers in diameter are called PM10 and PM2.5, respectively.
An AQI of 50 or below means the current air quality is good. The shaded areas of the map show the approximate boundaries where air quality is available and listed as anything other than good. The information is updated hourly.
How can I stay updated with the air quality in my area?
Michigan residents can check current conditions through EGLE’s MiAir Quality Index Dashboard. The interactive map provides AQI scores for cities across the state.
Residents can also use AirNow, a part of the U.S. Air Quality Index, and check local conditions by searching their ZIP Code or city. AccuWeather also has an AQI feature that lists the current pollutants in the air.
In addition, Michigan’s HHS Department has a Facebook and X account. The department allows for residents to subscribe for alerts through the EnviroFlash system.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Is it safe for my pets to be out? What to know about wildfire smoke
Reporting by Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
