As the fires continue to burn throughout Oregon we ask ourselves, “How much more can I stand this campfire smell?!” Well if your pup could talk, he would be asking himself the same thing!

A dog’s sense of smell is about 10,000 times more powerful than ours! Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to our measly 6 million. And the part of a dog’s brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is about 40 times greater than ours. That’s a whole lotta campfire stench!

Not only are their senses of smell sensitive to the smokey air, but when a dog exercises they pant in order to keep their bodies cool. This means they are taking in gasps of air for an extended period of time. When you take your pup out to exercise in these smokey conditions, they will begin to pant and inhale the unhealthy air into their lungs. This air could effect even the healthiest of dogs, but is much worse for elderly pups, dogs that are overweight, and of course those with health issues.

Please be aware of the air quality in your town, and be sure to limit outdoor romps and hazardous air exposure.

“Pet owners who must walk or exercise pets outdoors should look for times of the day when smoke and dust settle as much as possible. On really severe days, designated with a red air quality warning, maybe only a quick outing in the yard is best. By all means, though, avoid intensive exercise during these periods of poor air quality.” -Dr. Robert Dyke of WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital