Protecting Your Pets from EMF Radiation – Everything you Need to Know

Our pets are our friends. I have a yellow lab, and I couldn’t do this life without her. She wakes me up in the morning, cheers me up when I’m down, and brings joy to my life.

I consider my dog part of my family. And I take care of her health the same way I take care of my own health.

So, when I started to learn about the dangerous effects of EMF radiation on humans, I started to wonder if I might not be the only one affected. My dog spends most of her day in and around my home and I wanted to know if she was being exposed to unnecessary radiation. I began researching the effects of radiation on pets and decided to compile this guide for my readers.

To begin, let’s start with a short intro to EMF radiation and its dangers. This should give you a good foundation heading into the recommendations I provide.

EMF Radiation – A Brief Overview

EMF (electromagnetic field) radiation, is a common occurrence in nature. We are swimming in magnetic fields everywhere we go. The Earth has its own magnetic field, as do large bodies of water.

Recently, however, our planet has swelled with man-made electromagnetic fields. These EMFs are created by our electronic devices. Communications devices like smart meters, smartphones, and wireless routers emit a particularly strong type of EMF radiation.

Despite the rapidly increasing levels of ambient EMF radiation in our environment, science still isn’t sure how our health is challenged by this influx. While it’s unclear the exact ways in which we’re being affected by ambient radiation, many studies have shown that this radiation is having an effect.

Numerous studies have shown that non-ionizing radiation, like the kind emitted by your cell phone and wireless router, is related to several conditions including cancer, tumors, depression, lethargy, and others. Other studies have linked the use of cell phones to changes in blood-brain barrier function and defective sleeping patterns.

If you’re learning about the harmful effects of EMF radiation for the first time, then you may be wondering what the best way is to protect not only yourself, but also your pets from this abundant radiation. Read on to see how you can limit your beloved pet’s exposure to EMF radiation.

Does EMF Radiation Affect Pets?

According to the American Physiological Society, animals are often used in biological studies because they are biologically similar to humans and face many of the same health problems. Things that pose a threat to our health as humans are likely pose a threat to our animal friends, as well.

In fact, much of the research showing that EMFs are unsafe is actually conducted in mice and rats. While there aren’t any studies looking specifically at the effects of EMF radiation on dogs, cats, and other common pets, it’s safe to say that EMF can harm our pets in the same way it harms us humans.

If you are a pet owner concerned about the effects of EMFs on your pet, you’ll want to look for the symptoms of overexposure to EMFs. These symptoms may include:

Changes in sleeping patterns
Restlessness
Sudden changes in behavior
Unexplained aggression
Loss of appetite
Digestion issues

In addition to monitoring your pet for unusual behaviors, you’ll also want to survey their environment for potential EMF sources. In the next section, I’ll go over some of the most common ways your pet is exposed to EMFs and how you can eliminate them.

Common Sources of EMF Exposure in Pets

Before I detail some common sources of EMF exposure in pets, it may be helpful to describe the role of proximity in estimating your pet’s exposure.

Simply put, EMFs are strongest at their source. As you move farther from the source of EMF radiation, the power of the radiation you’re expose to decreases.

For example, your body is exposed to more exposure from a phone placed against the side of your head than from a phone sitting on a table 2 feet away from you. While the strength of the radiation source hasn’t changed, by increasing your distance you have lessened your exposure to the radiation significantly.

You’ll want to make sure that your pet doesn’t sleep in close proximity to devices which emit high levels of EMF radiation. Some common household devices which emit EMFs include:

Wireless Routers. Wireless routers emit radiation in order to transmit data to other wireless devices. If your pet’s bed or cage is near a wireless router, you’ll want to relocate it somewhere else.
Bluetooth Speakers. Bluetooth is a common source of EMF radiation. Don’t ever place a Bluetooth speaker on your pet’s cage, and don’t allow them to sleep near one, either.
Smart Meters. Many modern homes have smart meters installed in them. Smart meters use powerful EMF radiation to wirelessly transmit your utility usage data back to your utility provider. Never let your pet sleep near a smart meter.
Charging Devices. Though less powerful, charging devices also emit some EMF radiation. You’ll want to refrain from charging devices on top of your pet’s aquarium or cage.

If you aren’t sure how much EMF radiation your pet is being subjected to, then I highly recommend investing in a high quality EMF meter. EMF meters take the guess work out of protecting your pet. They provide a reading that tells you just how strong the radiation levels are in specific areas of your home.

I recommend this meter that I ordered for use in my home. It helped me discover that my yellow lab was sleeping too close to our smart meter. I would have had no way of knowing just how much radiation she was being exposed to unless I had used an EMF meter.

Simply increasing the proximity between your pet and these common sources of EMFs is an excellent starting point. Still, there are additional steps you’ll want to consider in order to limit EMF radiation to a minimum around your pet.

How to Limit Your Pet’s Exposure to EMFs

Aside from increasing the proximity between your pet and common household electronics, there are a few more steps you can take to cut back on EMFs in your home.

Set a Timer for Your Wireless Router

If you are away from home during the day, consider setting a timer for your wireless router. This way, your pet isn’t being bathed in Wifi signals while you are away at work.

Some Wireless routers even allow you to set a complete Wifi schedule. This functionality allows for your Wifi to turn itself off at night and turn back on in the morning. If you’d like some help setting this up in your home, check out the guide I wrote all about this topic—Setting Up a Wifi Schedule.

If you do decide to set a timer on your router, then consider getting something like the NETGEAR Nighthawk which you can see here on Amazon.

Replace Your Smart Meter with an Analog Meter

In some states, utility companies give customers the option to have their smart meter replaced with an old-fashioned analog meter. Smart meters are a significant source of radiation as they are constantly beaming data to your utility provider.

If you believe that your pet is being overexposed to the radiation from your smart meter, contact your utility provider to see if you can have it replaced with an analog one.

If getting it replaced is not an option, then you might want to get a smart meter guard like this one on Amazon. These smart meter guards do a great job at reducing the amount of EMF radiation that is being emitted from your smart meter. They are also very easy to set up.

Avoid “Smart” Pet Technologies

Increasingly, it seems that “smart” technologies aren’t so smart for our health. Fitness bands, Bluetooth earbuds, and other devices emit radiation and are often used in close proximity to the body.

Some pet owners have invested in Wifi or Bluetooth collars for their pets. While these technologies may offer some useful features, they may be exposing your pet to an unnecessary amount of EMF radiation.

If you’re concerned about your pet’s exposure to EMFs, then you will want to avoid smart collars and similar “smart” technologies.