Fresh Air For Pet Owners
We all breathe the same air, so fresh air is just as important to your pets as it is to you. In this video you will learn what could be harmful to you and your pets and how to assess your home air quality. There are several major dangers that could be lurking around your house such as lead paint and carbon monoxide and this video will explain them a so that you and your pets can breathe fresh air all of the time.
Step 1: Quality air is important
We all breathe the same air, but your pet may be even more sensitive to air quality than humans. According to the EPA, chemical levels in the home may be 70% higher than outdoors. With most pets living 90% of their lives indoors, it's easy to see why air quality is such an important issue.
Step 2: Pollutants in the home:
[Artemiss, Certified Environmental Consultant]: "Your air conditioning is the lungs of your house, if you want to think of it that way, and improper maintenance to an air conditioned environment creates a lot of indoor air quality problems."
It's estimated that three million tons of lead paint remains in most homes built before 1980. Exposure to lead can cause blindness and even kidney problems in dogs.
Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and deadly. This gas can leak from stoves, dryers, and furnaces. Birds are especially sensitive to carbon monoxide. Solution? Get a carbon monoxide alarm. If you ever notice a pet acting sluggish or lethargic, get them some fresh air, and call a vet immediately.
Step 3: Assessing the air:
So how do you assess your air quality at home? Well, you can go to a hardware store and pick up a self-test kit. They've got radon, they've got lead, they've even got mold. Or, you can call an indoor air quality specialist. They're most extensive, and they're more expensive.
Step 4: Watch for mold
Mold can be very dangerous to your pets. Mold can cause stomach problems, heart palpitations, and even seizures.
[Artemiss ]: "I have one client who has four dogs, and her dogs start sneezing as soon as they start being exposed to mold."
Remember, pets are smaller than humans and react more quickly to pollutants. That's why it's important to make sure your home is safe.
For the pet report, I'm Mitch Wilder.
