07/16/2026
🐾 MICHIGAN AIR QUALITY ALERT: Keep Your Pets Safe! 🐾
Michigan summers are meant for outdoor adventures, but with the recent hazy skies and air quality alerts, it’s important to remember: if the air is unhealthy for us, it’s unhealthy for our pets, too.
Smoke and poor air quality can irritate your pet’s lungs and eyes, just as it does yours. Here is what you need to know to keep your best friend breathing easy while the air clears!
🚨 Who is most at risk? While all pets should take it easy on bad air days, extra precautions are needed for:
Seniors and very young pets.
Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds like Pugs, Bulldogs, Frenchies, and Persian cats.
Pets with pre-existing heart or lung conditions (like asthma or bronchitis).
Birds, whose respiratory systems are highly sensitive to airborne particles.
⚠️ Signs of smoke or pollution irritation: Keep a close eye out for:
Coughing, wheezing, or gagging.
Red, watery, or inflamed eyes.
Panting heavily while resting, or labored breathing.
Lethargy, unusual fatigue, or a sudden lack of appetite and thirst.
🛡️ How to protect them today:
Stay inside: Keep windows and doors tightly closed. Run the AC (set to recirculate) or use an air purifier with a HEPA filter if you have one.
Short potty breaks only: Skip the long walks, hikes, and intense games of fetch until the air quality improves.
Bust boredom safely: Swap the outdoor run for indoor brain games! Use puzzle feeders, stuffed KONGs, or teach them new tricks to burn off energy safely inside.
Skip the masks: Please do not put human face masks on your pets—it can restrict their breathing and cause them unnecessary anxiety.
If your pet is showing severe symptoms, seems disoriented, or is struggling to breathe, please call us (231) 335-1911 or call your nearest emergency vet immediately.
Stay safe and snuggle up indoors today! 💙🐶🐱