UPDATE: Philadelphia is now under a Code Purple Air Quality Emergency. This means the smoke has gotten worse — everyone, not just sensitive pets, is at risk. Keep dogs to quick bathroom breaks only (no walks), keep cats fully indoors with windows sealed, and call us right away if you notice coughing or labored breathing.
If you stepped outside in Philadelphia this week, you probably noticed it before you even checked your phone: that hazy, orange-tinted sky, and the faint smell of a campfire that shouldn’t be there. Smoke from wildfires burning across Canada has settled over the city, and Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Red air quality alert. Local meteorologists are calling it the worst smoke event Philly has seen since 2023.
We’re getting a lot of calls at both our South Philly and Northern Liberties locations from pet parents asking the same question: is this smoke actually dangerous for my dog or cat, and what should I be doing differently right now? Short answer: yes, wildfire smoke is genuinely hazardous for pets, and a few small changes to your routine over the next few days can make a real difference. Here’s what we’re telling our own clients this week.
Why Wildfire Smoke Is Hard on Pets
Wildfire smoke is loaded with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — particles so small they travel deep into the lungs and even into the bloodstream. Dogs and cats are arguably more vulnerable to this than we are. They breathe faster, spend more time close to the ground where smoke and heat settle, and can’t tell us when their chest feels tight or their eyes are burning.
Pets most at risk during a smoke event like this one include:
- Senior dogs and cats
- Puppies and kittens
- Pets with asthma, bronchitis, or other existing heart or lung conditions
- Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Persian or Himalayan cats, who already work harder to breathe
- Pets recovering from recent illness or surgery
Signs Your Dog or Cat May Be Reacting to Smoke
Keep an eye out for:
- Coughing, gagging, or wheezing
- Red, watery, or squinty eyes
- Nasal discharge or sneezing more than usual
- Fatigue or reluctance to move around
- Reduced appetite
- Breathing that looks fast, shallow, or labored
Mild irritation can often be managed at home once your pet is back in clean air. But if you’re seeing labored breathing, blue-tinted gums, repeated vomiting, or your pet seems disoriented or collapses, that’s an emergency. Don’t wait it out — get them seen right away.
Our Top Tips for Dog Owners During Smoky, Code Red Days
- Shorten walks and skip the strenuous stuff. Quick potty breaks only. Save the long walks, runs, and fetch sessions for after the air clears.
- Time it right. If you have any flexibility, walk early morning or late evening when smoke and heat both tend to be a little lower, and check the air quality index before you head out.
- Watch the pavement, too. Between the smoke and the heat wave we’re in, hot asphalt is its own hazard. If it’s too hot for your bare hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
- Bring water on every outing, even a short one. Panting harder in smoky air means pets dehydrate faster.
- Skip the dog park and outdoor training classes until the Code Red alert lifts.
Our Top Tips for Cat Owners During Smoky, Code Red Days
- Keep cats indoors, full stop, even if yours is normally an indoor/outdoor cat.
- Close windows, even the cracked ones your cat loves to sit in front of.
- Run air conditioning on recirculate rather than pulling in outside air, if your system allows it.
- Add a HEPA air purifier to the room your cat spends the most time in, if you have one.
- Keep litter boxes and water bowls away from doors that get opened and closed often.
General Tips for Every Household
- Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible.
- Avoid burning candles, using fireplaces, or anything else that adds more particulates indoors.
- If you or a family member wears an N95 mask outside, know that it isn’t practical (or safe) to put a mask on a pet — limiting their outdoor exposure is the real protection.
- If your pet has a known respiratory or heart condition, this is a good week to have any rescue inhalers or prescribed medications on hand and easy to find.
When to Call Us
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if your pet is coughing persistently, breathing heavily, acting unusually lethargic, or just seems “off” during this smoke event. It’s always easier to rule something out early than to wait until symptoms escalate. Our team at both South Philly and Northern Liberties is here for exactly these moments, and if it looks urgent, we’ll get you in quickly.
South Philly: 267-225-3500
Northern Liberties: 215-273-3335
We know the smoke will clear, this heat will break, and Philly will get its blue skies back. In the meantime, a little extra caution goes a long way toward keeping your dog or cat comfortable and safe. If you’re at all unsure whether what you’re seeing at home warrants a visit, call us — we’d always rather you check in than wait it out.