Keeping your pets safe from the poor air quality

Just like humans, animals are impacted by the bad air quality the Central Valley is currently experiencing.

Here are some ways to ensure animals are safe from the hazardous air.

RIGHT NOW IN KERN COUNTY -- IFYOU LOOK OUT THE WINDOW -- YOUCAN SEE HAZE AND SMOKE.OUR AIR QUALITY IS HISTORICALLYPOOR DURING THE SUMMER MONTHSBUT THE HUNDREDS OF FIRES AROUNDTHE STATE AREONLY MAKING IT WORSE THIS YEAR.WE KNOW IT'S NOT GOOD FOR US --BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOROUR PETS?JOINING US LIVE THIS MORNING VIAZOOM IS JULIE JOHNSON --EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THEBAKERSFIELD SPCA -- TO TALKABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP OUR FURRYFRIENDS RIGHT NOW.GOOD MORNING JULIE!-OUR ANIMALS ARE JUST ASSUSCEPTIBLE TO THE HAZARDOUSAIR AS HUMANS ARE.

WHAT ARE SOMEWAYS TO ENSURE THEY AREAS SAFE AS POSSIBLE?LIMIT OUTDOOR EXPOSUREDOGS AND CATS SHOULD ONLY BE OUTFOR BATHROOMBREAKS WHEN NECESSARY ANDWALKS/RUNS SHOULD BEPOSTPONED UNTIL THE AIR CLEARSUP.

BIRDS ARE ALSO VERYSUSCEPTIBLE AND SHOULD BE KEPTINDOORS WHEN SMOKE IS PRESENT.KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED.KEEP INDOOR AIR CLEAN.

DO NOTVACUUM, BURN CANDLES, FRYFOOD OR USE A FIREPLACE AS THESEACTIVITIES ADDPARTICULATES TO THE AIR.IF POSSIBLE, BRING YOUR OUTDOORPET INSIDE TO YOURGARAGE, BATHROOM OR UTILITYROOM.IF YOUR PET ABSOLUTELY HAS TOSTAY OUTSIDE, CHANGE THEIRWATER BOWL OFTEN-HOW DO YOU SUGGEST KEEPING YOURHIGH-ENERGY DOACTIVE IF YOU CAN'T WALK THEM?-HOW CAN THIS AIR AFFECT THEM?AND AT WHAT POINT SHOULDYOU CONTACT A VET?CALL YOUR VET IF YOUR PET HASANY OF THE FOLLOWINGSIGNS:COUGHING/GAGGING/SNEEZINGRED WATERY EYES OR NASALDISCHARGETROUBLE BREATHING, ESPECIALLYCATS WHO ARE OPEN-MOUTH BREATHINGFATIGUE OR WEAKNESSUNCOORDINATED WALKING ORINABILITY TO STANDREDUCED APPETITE OR THIRST -WITHALL THE FIRES AROUND... WEALWAYS TALK ABOUT HAVING AGO-BAG AND BEING READY TOEVACUATE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.WHAT SHOULD YOU INCLUDE FOR YOURPET?3+ DAYS' SUPPLY FOOD & WATERPET FOOD DISHESLITTER BOX WITH LITTER (IF YOUHAVE CATS)EXTRA LEASHES & COLLARVACCINATION & MEDICAL RECORDS 2WEEKS MEDICATION (IF APPLICABLE)PHOTOS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF EACHPETPET FIRST AID KIT AND PET FIRSTAID BOOKAND LET'S BRING CHIEFMETEOROLOGIST ELAINA RUSK BA