Did you know that your pet is as susceptible to poor air quality as you are? Because air quality and pets aren't often discussed, many people may be unaware that they can develop lifelong diseases like asthma or allergies just like their humans. As a responsible pet owner, you want to do your best to protect your furry friends from poor air quality and keep them as healthy as possible. Below we'll discuss the impact of air quality on pets as well as the causes of indoor air pollution and the steps we should all be taking to mitigate it.

ARE PETS MORE VULNERABLE TO POOR AIR QUALITY?

Even though your pets are exposed to the same air you breathe and, therefore, the same pollutants, they may experience worse symptoms and side effects from poor air quality. A study on sled dogs found that they're more sensitive to poor air quality than humans. Specifically, when researchers exposed the dogs to particulate matter 2.5, the dogs experienced 5-10 times higher levels of superoxide dismutase. Superoxide is a naturally occurring enzyme that helps mammals regulate oxygen. Higher levels of this enzyme can indicate that they are having a hard time regulating oxygen levels.

Unfortunately, scientific journals have reported that poor indoor air quality can lead to multiple health issues in both dogs and cats. A paper published by the Journal of veterinary internal medicine reported that, when exposed to pm 2.5 at home, cats have a higher chance of contracting respiratory diseases like feline asthma, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer. In contrast, dogs are 60% more likely to develop lung cancer due to poor indoor air quality as well as other diseases.

WHAT CAUSES POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY?

Unfortunately, poor air quality isn't always visible. It isn't always easy to detect or determine when the air quality has changed. There is, however, an easy way to always be sure of the air quality you and your pets are exposed to. An air quality monitor helps to keep consistent and accurate observations so you can make better and more informed decisions for your and your pet's health.

Thanks to some scientific research, we've compiled the following list that includes the main contributors to air pollution in your home. So, you can more precisely determine what's causing your poor indoor air quality and could potentially be making you or your pet sick.

  • Particles & Gasses Suspended in the Air: Particulate Matter (PM), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Radon (Rn), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
  • Biological Pollutants: Funguses, Molds, Pollen, Bacteria, Viruses, Mildew, Animal Dander, House Dust, and more
  • Man Made Pollutants: Stove & Oven Cooking Fumes, Household & Cleaning Chemicals, Commercial & Industrial Grade Chemicals, Pesticides, and Insecticides
  • Smoke & Fumes: Secondhand Cigarette Smoke, Woodburning & Wildfire Smoke, Incense & Candle Smoke & Fumes
  • Building & Paint Pollutants: Asbestos, Lead (Pb), Formaldehyde, Hydrogen Sulfide, Benzene, Plasticizers, and other VOCs

6 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE FROM POOR AIR QUALITY –

Like any other loved one or family member, you want to protect your pets and keep them healthy and safe. This stands true when it comes to poor indoor air quality and airborne pollutants that could be lurking in and around your home. Fortunately, you don't have to go to great lengths to protect your furry friends from poor air quality. Here are some tips, tricks, and tools to help you get started today!

1. Ventilate Your Home - Take advantage of when the air quality index indicates that the air outside is good or above. Open your windows to ventilate your home and allow as much fresh air as possible. This helps ensure that air circulates throughout the rooms of your home and reduces stagnant and pollutant air. Additionally, don't forget to use a proper ventilation system when cooking and baking. By doing this, you can redirect fumes and smoke outside your home instead of circulating it inside.

2. Use Non-Toxic & Allergy-Friendly Cleaning Products - Common household cleaning products and pesticides release chemicals and toxins into the air that are harmful to you and your pet. This is why it's so important to make sure you're using only the safest cleaning products around your home. There are many pet-friendly and allergy-friendly cleaning products available on the market. These products are specifically made to reduce airborne pollutants and toxins and to help maintain a healthier household.

3. Vacuum Your Home Regularly - You and your pets can bring various pollutants and contaminants into your home from outdoors. These things tend to build up around the floor and baseboards and in carpets. This is why it's so vital to vacuum your home regularly, especially if you have carpets, to help minimize the dust and debris in your home. In addition, it helps to have a HEPA vacuum cleaner made to vacuum and trap allergens, dust, and debris.

4. Use HVAC Air Filters - Air filters have become a crucial part of our lives as of late. They help protect against airborne pollutants and create a healthier living and breathing environment. A quality HEPA filter paired with an HVAC home system can help trap and filter out many of the pollutants in your home's air. It's important to remember to change this filter regularly, as recommended by the manufacturer, to keep them performing properly and to keep pollutants at bay.

5. Keep Poor Air Quality Outside - When the air quality outside is poor, it can have a significant and negative impact on our and our pet's health. It's recommended to keep all windows and doors closed when the air quality outdoors takes a turn for the worst. During this time, it's important to limit our exposure and time spent outside as much as possible. Only venture outside when absolutely necessary and going one place to another or for poddy trips.

6. Invest In An Air Quality Monitor - It's hard to know what triggers poor indoor air quality or just how bad and stagnant our air quality has become over time. This is why investing in an air quality monitor can be highly beneficial for us and our furry friends. They monitor the air around you and can even offer a breakdown of pollutant concentrations and what exactly is affecting your indoor air. This, in turn, will help you build your life and routine centered around good indoor air quality.

PROTECT YOUR PETS -

Ever since bringing your pet home for the first time, you've treated them like another member of the family because they are. And we want the best for each and every one of our family members. Our pets are no different. This includes doing what we can to ensure they breathe the freshest air possible. Unfortunately, our pets can't always let us know what's wrong or what's bothering them. So, it's up to us to monitor indoor and outdoor air quality and take the necessary steps to protect them from air pollution.

To keep up with current air quality conditions outside your home and in your town or local area, you can go to AirNow.gov and simply enter your zip code. According to AirNow, the official home of the U.S. AQI, any AQI (Air Quality Index) value above 100 is considered to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, while any value above 150 is unhealthy for the general public. Remember, as a general rule, not to let your pet outdoors for more than a few minutes (i.e., the time it would take to go to the bathroom) when the AQI is at levels that would harm humans.