Smoke Inhalation in Dogs and Cats: What To Do if Your Pet Inhales Smoke
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As wildfires continue to rage across southern California, creating devastation for both humans and animals, many pet parents may be wondering what happens if a pet inhales smoke, and what to do if their pet was exposed to large amounts of smoke.
It’s important to know what to look for if your pet was exposed to any amount of smoke. The health issues from smoke inhalation vary depending on how much the pet was exposed to, but all occurrences should be treated with medical urgency. Smoke inhalation trauma can range from minor to serious depending on the case.
Here’s what to look for—and what to know—if your pet has been exposed to fire and smoke.
Symptoms of Smoke Inhalation in Your Pet
If your pet was recently exposed to smoke, they may be covered in ash/soot and may smell like smoke. However, your pet doesn’t have to smell like smoke or even be covered in ash to experience smoke inhalation.
Signs of smoke inhalation in pets may include:
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Difficulty breathing (coughing, wheezing, and/or rapid breathing)
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Bright or cherry/red colored gums
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Singed fur and/or visible burns
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Eye irritation like redness, squinting, watering, or an elevated third eyelid
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Neurologic signs, such as weakness and stumbling
Why Is Smoke Inhalation Dangerous to Pets?
Treatment for smoke inhalation-related illnesses and injuries vary based on severity, but symptoms can progress 48–72 hours after exposure. Access to veterinary care is critical for fire-related injuries, especially if your pet is showing any of the above symptoms.
If your pet is experiencing any of the following health emergencies related to smoke exposure, contact your veterinarian or an emergency vet as soon as possible.
Thermal Injuries
Air travels through your pet’s nose and mouth, making its way into the windpipe, small airways, and lungs.
Smoke and high heat can damage these airways by causing irritation and injury from ash, chemicals, and heat. If a pet’s airway linings are damaged, this leads to an increased risk of pneumonia.
Unfortunately, thermal injuries in pets can happen without any obvious external symptoms for a pet parent to see. It only takes 48–72 hours for ulcers and erosions in the airway to occur, so if you think you pet was exposed to any smoke inhalation, contact your vet.
If your pet experiences a thermal injury, a vet will likely treat them with oxygen support, possibly with antibiotics for secondary infections, and in severe cases, steroids to help with inflammation.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
During wildfires, the concentration of carbon monoxide in smoky air can be high, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning in pets.
Carbon monoxide disrupts the internal process of carrying oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues. This decreases the amount of oxygen in the brain and heart, leading to brain damage or even death.
The most common signs of carbon monoxide poisoning in pets are an increased respiratory rate and abnormal sounds heard via stethoscope in the lungs when they breathe. Some pets will also develop cherry-red mucous membranes and neurologic abnormalities, such as difficulty walking and/or unusual behavior.
Because carbon monoxide poisoning is mainly a silent threat with no obvious clinical signs for a pet parent to pick up on, it’s always best to seek veterinary care if your pet was exposed to smoke.
Treatment related to carbon monoxide poisoning depends on the case’s severity. Oxygen therapy is the mainstay for carbon monoxide poisoning, but in severe cases, your vet may refer you to a facility with a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.
Hydrogen Cyanide Poisoning
During a house fire, common household materials such as plastics, laminates, paint, varnishes, and other building materials release toxic gases that may result in hydrogen cyanide poisoning.
Signs of hydrogen cyanide poisoning in your pet may include:
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Rapid breathing
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Difficulty breathing
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Lethargy
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Drowsiness
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Unusual/excited behavior in your pet
Although hydrogen cyanide poisoning in pets isn’t as common, it’s still a potential danger when it comes to house fires.
If your pet is exposed to hydrogen cyanide poisoning, your vet will likely treat them with oxygen therapy and supportive care depending on the severity.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung infection that may develop because of complications from smoke inhalation.
When airways become damaged, they can no longer protect the lungs from inhaling bacteria. The severity of the lung infection and the pneumonia depends on the case.
Your vet may want to run radiographs (X-rays) or an ultrasound to evaluate your pet's lungs. If your pet is diagnosed with pneumonia, your vet will make a treatment plan that likely includes oxygen support, antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections, and possibly steroids and/or bronchodilators for airway support and Inflammation.
If their pneumonia is severe, mechanical ventilation may be needed.
Neurologic Damage
If left untreated, smoke inhalation can lead to neurological issues in your pet. This may include difficulty walking, changes in behavior, and/or seizures.
These neurological issues, caused by oxygen deprivation, may be progressive and can either be temporary or permanent depending on the extent of damage. This is why it’s critical to seek veterinary care if your pet inhales any amount of smoke to ensure they are treated promptly.
How Do Veterinarians Treat Smoke Inhalation in Pets?
If you believe your pet has inhaled smoke, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. The amount of smoke inhaled and the severity of the case will determine what treatment a veterinarian pursues.
For most smoke inhalation cases, a pet will typically be treated with oxygen therapy immediately. Oxygen therapy is the administration of supplemental oxygen either from an oxygen tank or concentrator by way of an oxygen cage/chamber, nasal cannula, face mask, flow-by, or in severe cases, intubation.
Oxygen is the mainstay therapy of smoke inhalation, but other supportive measures may be added to your pet's treatment plan depending on their specific case. These often include antibiotics, steroids, IV fluids, and more.
As mentioned, severe health issues related to smoke inhalation aren’t always immediately obvious to pet parents. So, contact your vet or an emergency vet immediately if your pet has any exposure to smoke or fire.
How To Help Your Pet Avoid Smoke Inhalation
There are preventative measures you can take if a wildfire breaks out near your home to keep your pet safe:
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Keep pets indoors if there is smoke in the air.
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If possible, keep your heating or air conditioning off, as these units tend to draw in air from the outside.
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Pack your pet’s essentials, including food, medications, leash and collar, and their medical records. In the event you must evacuate, you’ll have all their stuff in one place. Dog or cat carriers are always recommended to have on hand in the event of a pet emergency. You can also consider packing a pet first-aid kit in advance of an emergency.
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If you are ordered to evacuate, move yourself and your pets to an area of higher elevation because smoke tends to settle in valleys.
At the time of this publication, Best Friends Animal Society is offering fostering for pets displaced by the California wildfires. Additionally, the Red Cross is keeping an updated list of shelters available for those who must evacuate. Double check with the individual shelter first to determine if pets are allowed.
If your pet inhales smoke, there are steps you can take immediately to help them:
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If possible, move your pet away from the worst of the fire and smoke and into an area with fresh air.
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Keep them warm and dry with towels and blankets.
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Seek out EMTs and ambulances, which typically carry oxygen that can be administered to your pet if necessary.
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Transport your pet as soon as possible to an emergency veterinary clinic.