All of us at Veterinary Pet Insurance express our deepest concern for all people and pets that have been affected by Southern California’s recent wild fires. We are aware that many residents and their pets were required to evacuate their homes to avoid danger and/or harmful health effects. VPI emphasizes to pet owners that even those not required to evacuate are still susceptible to the threats associated with fires spreading and a smoke-filled atmosphere.

For people with pets that are in close or reasonable proximity to the burning areas, VPI suggests closely monitoring your pet’s health by watching for the following smoke/fire exposure symptoms:

Increased breathing rate and effort, coughing or gagging, lethargy, and weakness could be caused by smoke irritants as well as carbon monoxide poisoning, which can prevent oxygen from being delivered to a pet’s body.

Stumbling, wobbly walking, collapsing, and decreased consciousness are typically signs related to lack of oxygen delivery to a pet’s brain. Brain damage from lack of oxygen can be temporary or permanent, depending on the deprivation period.

Red or cloudy eyes, rubbing at the eyes, and squinting are common results of eye sensitivity to the effect of heat and irritants. A pet’s cornea is especially sensitive to smoke and fire.

Singed hair can be a sign of a burn injury to the skin, even if it does not look serious. Burn injuries can vary in depth and severity, and have the potential to affect other body systems.

Signs related to fire and smoke exposure can be immediate or delayed, so any animal exposed to fire or smoke should be watched closely. If there was a high chance of any prolonged or close exposure to smoke or heat or if the above symptoms have manifested, the pet should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

In addition to being astute to your pet’s health, here are key things to consider when focusing on disaster preparedness:

Make sure your pet is easily identifiable via an I.D. tag and/or microchipping in case they become lost.

Keep dogs and cats restrained or indoors during a catastrophe, making them easy to find if evacuation is necessary and minimizing the risk of pets getting scared or lost.

Keep a list of names and phone numbers of boarding facilities and E.R. hospitals outside of your area if evacuation is necessary.

Gather any current medication your pet is taking, along with any relevant medical records, in the event evacuating and boarding of your pet is required.

VPI reminds all pet owners to pay equal attention to their own personal safety and health during disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes.