Smoke from Northern California fires drifts into Solano and Yolo counties in many summers and falls. Dogs breathe the same air we do, and the guidance for them is close to the guidance for people.
What veterinarians advise
The American Veterinary Medical Association advises keeping pets indoors as much as possible when smoke is in the air, with windows closed, and limiting outdoor time to short bathroom breaks while alerts are active. Hard exercise outside is best skipped. A portable air cleaner can keep one room cleaner than the rest of the house, a tip the CDC shares for people as well. Check the local air quality reading from the official air quality agency for your area on the day, rather than judging by whether the sky looks clear.
Signs of trouble
The AVMA lists coughing or gagging, trouble breathing including open-mouth breathing, watery or irritated eyes, nasal discharge, a faster breathing rate, lethargy, and reduced appetite or thirst as signs of smoke irritation. Pets with heart or lung disease, older pets and young pets are at higher risk, and flat-faced breeds such as Bulldogs and Pugs have narrower airways. If you see these signs, call your veterinarian.
How runs work on smoky days
Each dog at Happy Paws has an indoor/outdoor run with a doggie door and picks its own spot. The inside room is air conditioned in summer and heated in winter, so on a hazy day a dog that prefers to stay in is able to. If your dog has a lung, heart or breathing condition, or is a flat-faced breed, say so on the pet information form and in the medical release, which names health conditions and what to do if you cannot be reached. Medications are given at no extra charge.
If you are evacuating
Smoke often arrives with an evacuation order. See emergency boarding during fires and floods and the pet evacuation plan. Keep rabies, distemper/parvo and Bordetella records handy in your phone, since current records are required for every stay. Canine influenza is recommended but not required.