KUALA LUMPUR – Pets are developing respiratory problems severe enough to require oxygen therapy amid deteriorating air quality, while persistent haze could disrupt migratory birds’ journeys through Malaysia and threaten their survival.
Veterinarian Dr Wendy Cheng of Noah’s Ark Veterinary Clinic told Scoop that fine particles in polluted air, including PM2.5, could irritate animals’ respiratory systems and worsen existing heart and lung conditions.
She said she had treated cats suffering asthma attacks and birds breathing with their mouths open. A puppy had also recently required oxygen therapy and nebulisation at a veterinary clinic.
“Symptoms owners should watch for include sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, watery or irritated eyes, wheezing, rapid breathing, reduced appetite and unusual lethargy,” she said.
Cheng cautioned that open-mouth breathing, particularly in cats, and obvious difficulty breathing were medical emergencies requiring immediate veterinary attention.
She advised pet owners to keep their animals indoors as much as possible, minimise outdoor walks and strenuous activities, and keep windows closed. Where available, air purifiers fitted with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters could help reduce airborne particles indoors.
“Owners should ensure their pets have access to fresh drinking water and avoid exposing them to cigarette smoke, incense, scented candles and aerosol sprays indoors,” she said.
“Senior animals, flat-faced breeds and pets with existing heart or respiratory conditions require closer monitoring, with owners urged to watch for changes in breathing, appetite and behaviour.”
Sabah-based veterinarian Dr Randolf Paza, who runs the Dr Haiwan Sabah Instagram account, said colleagues had reported cases of pets experiencing respiratory problems at veterinary clinics and animal shelters in Peninsular Malaysia.
“According to my peers, there are several cases where pets have been brought to clinics with symptoms that look like choking, but are actually coughing,” he said.
“The pets were given oxygen therapy, and some got better while others continued to show symptoms.”
Paza said smoke from fires and fine airborne particles could damage animals’ respiratory systems and make breathing difficult. Prolonged exposure could also affect their appetite and lead to more serious complications if left untreated.
Beyond domestic animals, the haze could pose challenges for migratory birds travelling through Malaysia, said Malaysian Nature Society Johor adviser Dr Vincent Chow.
He said poor visibility could interfere with birds’ navigation, potentially forcing them to delay their journeys, alter their flight paths or make additional stopovers.
Chow explained that migratory birds could broadly be divided into two groups: inland species that travelled between forested areas and coastal species that followed shorelines.
“These birds migrate along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, travelling from north to south and then back again to escape the winter season,” he said.
Some species cover thousands of kilometres along the flyway, with certain birds travelling as far as New Zealand before heading north again, he added.
“They can fly as far as New Zealand, where they lay their eggs, before flying back north with their offspring when spring arrives in the northern hemisphere,” he said.
Chow said haze could complicate these long-distance journeys, particularly for species that relied on their eyesight to locate prey and other food sources.
“Food availability is another concern because haze can affect insects and other food sources that migratory birds depend on,” he said.
Fires and smoke could also degrade wetlands, forests and other stopover habitats where birds rest and replenish their energy before continuing their migrations.
“If they have to take longer routes or make additional stopovers, they will expend more energy, and if there is also a lack of food resources, it could become risky for their survival,” he said.
The extent of the impact would depend on the haze’s severity and duration, the species affected and their migration routes, Chow said.
He stressed that protecting forests, wetlands and other stopover habitats was essential to safeguarding migratory birds, as these areas provided vital opportunities for the birds to rest and feed during their journeys.
The warnings come as haze continues to affect air quality across Malaysia, with 21 areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 9am on October 24, according to the Department of Environment’s monitoring system, as reported by Bernama.
Seremban in Negeri Sembilan and Larkin in Johor recorded the highest API readings at 169. Six other locations in Johor — Batu Pahat, Pasir Gudang, Tangkak, Kluang, Pengerang and Segamat — also registered unhealthy air quality.
Other affected areas included Nilai and Port Dickson in Negeri Sembilan; several locations in Melaka; Batu Muda and Cheras in Kuala Lumpur; Putrajaya; Petaling Jaya and Klang in Selangor; and Serian, Sri Aman and Kapit in Sarawak.
API readings between 101 and 200 are classified as unhealthy. – October 25, 2026