This year has been a big wake-up call. And people have been finally admitting to themselves that the preppers were right. We’re all wearing gas masks or any mask for that matter because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but what about our pets? Have you ever considered dog gas masks? I haven’t seen any pets with a mask on, but it’s important to consider them. Especially if you’re in a crowded area.
What if you have one of the best survival dogs? Of course, you and all of us want them to be safe. So let’s talk about gas masks for dogs.
Anything Can Happen
From sudden deaths to the pandemic to the current uprisings around the world — we can’t seem to catch up at all. The reality that we don’t really know what the future holds struck us hard.
But we are resilient. Anything can happen but we learn and we adapt. We keep ourselves, our families, and our loved ones healthy, safe, and secure. We also take extra care of our furry friends and pets, including our dogs — our reliable best friend.
Air Pollution And Other Threats
Nowadays, the health of the environment is evidently spiraling down. The truth hurts, but the huge contributor to the pollution problem is us.
Globally, we experience waste overproduction, water pollution, deforestation, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, soil pollution, lowered biodiversity, calamities, ice caps melting, climate change, and, of course, air pollution.
Here are some facts and figures about air pollution,
1) Air pollution causes 9% of deaths or 5 million deaths around the world every year.
2) It is among the top risk factors for illness burden.
3) Countries that have low to middle-income record the highest death rates caused by air pollution.
These data only show the prevalence of air pollution and its impacts to life. Even though world data are more focused on the human population, it’s worthy to note that our pets, particularly our dogs, also need clean and fresh air in order to survive.
Why Dogs Need Masks
Among thousands of animals, dogs are the so-called man’s best friend. There are a lot of reasons why this is so. Through and through, dogs have been there for humans in terms of companionship, hunting, security, herding, being messengers, rescuing, and even fighting.
Chris Wild of Mashable.com wrote that during the first World War, around one million dogs were killed in action due to the use of mustard gas, chlorine, and other chemical weapons. This prompted the use of gas masks for both soldiers and their dogs.
These masks were originally designed to filter out toxic, hazardous gases so that its wearers would be kept well and alive. In the second World War, the warring nations were more prepared for chemical warfare because of gas masks – for both soldiers and dogs.
Today, even though we are not (yet) in a state of war or environmental crisis, the continuous deterioration of air quality is enough reason to contemplate buying or actually buy gas masks for both us and our pet dogs. Prevention is indeed better than cure, so as preparation is better than neglect.
It’s great to realize that as much as we need to secure our health, we also have the responsibility to ensure the wellness of our dogs and other pets. In order to prepare for the worst, buying a gas mask for our dogs should be considered necessary.
Types
Depending on the breed of your dogs, the gas masks may vary in shape and size. Some may have smaller coverage intended for small-faced dogs, while some may have larger coverage made for bigger breeds.
Also, some gas masks are washable while some are disposable. The type of materials being used to create these gas masks may also vary. So it would be best to look for the best gas mask that will be suitable for your dogs. The important factors to consider when buying gas masks for dogs are comfort, durability, and effectiveness.
Where To Buy
Extensive pet and dog shops as well as some hardware stores sell different dog gas masks at varying prices. It can be easier to buy from the actual store so you can get the chance to scrutinize the material and test it for fitting.
However, due to the current adversity, it is more advisable to buy online through shopping platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba, eBay, Zalora, and other online shops. Staying at home is the trend of today’s new normal and while we’re at it, it would be best to follow such regulations in order to stay healthy and strong.
Where To Buy
An online shop called K9 Mask offers gas masks in various sizes for dogs. Their website states, “We empower you to protect your pet from air pollution threats like wildfire smoke, dust, PM2.5 toxins, ash, emissions, allergies, and bacteria.” Their dog masks are fortified with Activated Carbon air filters with PM2.5 and N95 dog pollution mask air filter protection.
Finally, a company called MIRA Safety produces a protective enclosure designed for small infants and pets. This can be used for dogs, too. The product name is KZD-6 Protective Enclosure / Infant Gas Mask for Small Children & Pets.
Their website states, “…this protective enclosure seals hermetically and provides potentially life-saving protection from toxic contaminants, bacterial agents, and dangerous radioactive exposure – working effectively as an infant gas mask in extreme situations.”
No matter what happens, our dogs remain loyal to us. In times of difficulty, it’s only fitting to return the favor by loving our dogs more and taking care of them the best way possible.
Conclusion
Even without a pandemic, air pollution high in certain areas. It can also be situational. Having a mask for yourself and your k9 will help you be prepared.
I hope you liked this post on gas masks for dogs. If you’re looking for more reading on the subject, you can check out this article on Mashable.
