The Potential Benefits Of Humidifiers For Pets
Using a humidifier could help your cat or dog if they have a cold and they’re dealing with a runny or stuffy nose. Plus, dogs and cats can deal with issues related to asthma, very much like humans. Although cats tend to be more prone to asthma than dogs, both fur friends can get the condition. The rough estimate is that about 1% of cats in the US deal with chronic or acute asthma.
Many things can trigger your pet’s asthma, including mold spores, smoke, and certain air fresheners. Another thing that can potentially set off an asthma attack is dry air. Since drier air tends to aggravate and increase asthma symptoms, your pal could benefit from a humidifier.
If you’re unsure whether or not your pet has asthma, look for symptoms like wheezing, lethargy, excessive mucus, and a constant cough. If you suspect your canine companion or feline friend might have asthma, a trip to the vet is an absolute must.
Your vet can recommend the best form of treatment, help you pinpoint your pet’s possible triggers, and offer professional guidance. Stress can heighten asthma symptoms for some pets, so you might find that simply reducing your pet’s stress level can help.
Using calming sprays or diffusers, interactive toys, or a lick mat could prove helpful if this is the case. Licking releases endorphins, which promote a sense of calmness and can help your furry pal feel less anxious. Other potential benefits of humidifiers are soothing dry and itchy skin. Still, keep in mind, while a humidifier can offer relief if your pet has dry, itchy skin, it’s imperative to find out why this is the case. Is it allergies? An infection? Parasites? You want to make sure you also address any issues at the source and use a humidifier as a way to offer relief, not as a cure-all.
Is a vaporizer safe for dogs?
Dogs are often tempted by the smell of the liquid nicotine in e-cigarettes. Symptoms generally appear very quickly after ingestion and can include sickness, diarrhoea, agitation, heavy panting and a rise in heart rate. Large doses can result in seizures, comas, cardiac arrest and even death.
If your dog is congested, place him in a small room, like a bathroom, and set up a vaporizer. Let him sit in the room until the vaporizer is finished. If he is sleeping, set up the vaporizer near him and let him breathe in the medication as he sleeps. This may help temporarily decongest him. Or, apply vapor rub to his nose. He may be tempted to lick it off, so only apply a small amount to prevent him from salivating a great deal.
Although difficulty breathing is not always a medical emergency for dogs, other symptoms in addition to this may require the attention of your veterinarian. See your veterinarian if your dog is wheezing, choking or breathing raspy, as these are often signs of a foreign body stuck in your dogs respiratory pathway. Do not try to remove an object yourself since the object may become further embedded; instead, immediately visit your veterinarian.