For many families, the first sign that something is wrong in the home isn’t a lab result or a musty smell—it’s the dog.
Maybe your normally energetic companion is suddenly lethargic. Maybe there’s chronic scratching, respiratory symptoms, digestive upset, or anxiety that doesn’t seem to have a clear cause.
When homeowners start connecting those dots, a hard question follows: could mold in the house be affecting my dog’s health?
In a humid mountain region like Western North Carolina, mold is a common household issue, especially in homes with crawlspaces, basements, or older construction. Dogs, unlike humans, spend more time close to the floor, where heavier mold spores, dust, and allergens tend to settle. They also breathe faster and have smaller airways relative to their body size, which can make them more sensitive to poor indoor air quality.
Veterinarians increasingly recognize that environmental factors can contribute to chronic symptoms in pets. While mold exposure is rarely the sole cause of illness, prolonged exposure to elevated mold levels can aggravate respiratory issues, skin irritation, fatigue, and immune stress in dogs—particularly those with preexisting sensitivities.
That said, it’s important not to jump to conclusions. Seeing mold or smelling something musty does not automatically mean your dog is being harmed, just as online horror stories don’t automatically apply to your home. The real issue isn’t the presence of mold spores—those exist everywhere—but whether there is an indoor moisture problem causing abnormal mold growth and compromised air quality.
Many homeowners turn to at-home mold tests, but these often create more anxiety than clarity. In humid climates, they almost always show mold, without explaining whether it’s a normal background level or something more concerning. Decisions about mold removal should never be based on fear or guesswork—especially when your family and pets are involved.
The most responsible first step is a professional visual inspection. A trained inspector can identify visible mold growth, moisture intrusion, ventilation problems, and construction vulnerabilities that directly affect indoor air quality. Often, this inspection alone can determine whether further testing or action is even necessary.
At Green Home Solutions Asheville, homeowners can schedule a free visual inspection performed by an ACAC-certified mold inspector. The goal is peace of mind, and helping you to understand what’s actually happening in your home, and whether it could be affecting the health of everyone living there, including your dog.
If your pup is telling you something’s up, it’s worth checking out. Clarity beats speculation every time. Schedule a free visual air quality inspection of your home today by calling 828-332-3087.
Call Green Home Solutions of Asheville today to schedule your free visual inspection and get clear answers about your home’s air quality—for the whole family, paws included.