Keeping our furry friends comfortable is a top pup parent priority. As it turns out, humidifiers can help our dogs feel more at home, especially if you live in a dry area.
Below, we’ll explain how a humidifier can benefit your pooch, discuss the ideal humidity level for canines, and identify those things you should look for when making your choice.
But, if you’re in a hurry, just check out our quick picks!
Best Pet Humidifier for Dogs: Quick Picks
- #1 Magictec Cool Mist Humidifier [Easiest Humidifier to Set Up and Use] — If you just want to take a humidifier out of the box, fill it, and forget it, it’s hard to beat this Magictec model.
- #2 Homech Cool Mist Humidifier [Quietest Pet Humidifier] — Although many humidifiers are loud and imposing, the Homech Humidifier is whisper-quiet and won’t disturb your sleep.
- #3 AIRCARE Whole-House Evaporative Humidifier [Best for Humidifying Large Areas] — If you just want to boost the humidity throughout your house, the AIRCARE Humidifier is a great choice, as it’ll treat up to 3,600 square feet.
Why Use a Pet Humidifier for Your Dog?
Humidifiers can work wonders for dry skin, houseplants, and even our favorite four-footers. Here a couple of reasons why your pooch may benefit from a pet humidifier:
- Living In An Arid Area — If you live in a dry climate, it’s a good idea to have a humidifier at home to keep your pet’s skin and coat in good shape. Humidifiers can also help your pooch feel more comfortable at home so that Fido can relax with ease.
- Winter Air — Winter air is often much drier than the warm air of summer. Humidifiers can help you regain lost moisture if you live in a place that experiences dry winters.
- Adding Warmth — Warm mist humidifiers can make the air in your home feel warmer. However, you’ll want to be extra cautious around humidifiers with a heating element since this could be a potential hazard for Fido.
- Alleviating Dry Skin — If your pooch suffers from dry skin, a humidifier can help alleviate their symptoms and make Spot feel more comfortable at home. This may even help soothe itchy skin in some cases.
- Breathing Issues — Humidifiers can help pets who suffer from breathing problems feel relaxed and breathe easier at home.
While humidifiers can be hugely beneficial for pets, it’s always a good idea to speak with your veterinarian before bringing one into your home.
What Is the Ideal Humidity Level for Dogs?
In general, adult dogs thrive at a humidity level of 30 to 70 percent, while young puppies and nursing litters prefer a slightly higher average humidity level of about 65 percent.
However, every dog is different, which is why it’s important to consult your veterinarian before bringing a humidifier into your home.
The Best Pet Humidifiers For Dogs
Without further ado, here are some of our favorite humidifiers for dogs.
1. Magictec Cool Mist Humidifier
About: Magictec Cool Mist Humidifier is extremely easy to use and can run up to 24 hours on a single fill. If you’re just looking for a “plug-and-play” humidifier, the Magictec model is a great choice.
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Magictec Cool Mist Humidifier
Simple to set up and easy to operate, this humidifier can operate for up to 24 hours on a single tank of water.
Features:
- The Humidifier tank holds up to 2.5 liters of water at once
- Features a 360-degree nozzle to disperse cool mist all throughout your home
- Built-in auto-shutoff design
- Simple one-touch on and off button for ease of use
PROS
Owners loved how easy this humidifier was to set up and start with its simple, intuitive design. The auto-shutoff feature provides extra safety for pet parents who prefer to keep the humidifier running throughout the evening, or for a couple of hours while relaxing at home.
CONS
This humidifier refills from the bottom instead of the top, which can be somewhat cumbersome. Moreover, the LED light cannot be turned off, so this might not be the pick if you plan on using this humidifier while sleeping.
2. Homech Cool Mist Humidifier
About: The Homech Humidifier is super quiet cool mist humidifier that works great for families with four-footers. Producing only 26 decibels of sound (literally equivalent to a whisper), you’ll hardly notice when the unit is on.
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Homech Cool Mist Humidifier
Packed with helpful features, this humidifier holds enough water for 50 hours of continuous use and comes with built-in noise-reduction technology.
Features:
- Embedded noise reduction system for quiet humidifying
- Easy to clean inlet for simple maintenance
- Holds up to 4 liters of water at once
- Has both high and low-speed modes for up to 50 hours of continuous humidifying
- The humidifier shuts off automatically whenever the water tank is empty
PROS
Users were impressed with how quiet this cool mist humidifier was, and they appreciated the handle on the water tank for easy refills. The tank is also super easy to clean making it a great pick for busy pup parents.
CONS
Since this is a compact unit, this humidifier may not be the best for humidifying your entire house. Though it does have a helpful handle, this cool mist humidifier will still need to be filled from the bottom, which can be somewhat inconvenient.
3. AIRCARE Whole-House Evaporative Humidifier
About: This high-powered humidifier by AIRCARE is perfect for providing your entire home with a cool and comfortable mist. You’ll pay a little more for this unit than most others, but owners in need of humidifying large areas will likely find it worth the added expense.
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AIRCARE Whole-House Evaporative Humidifier
Capable of keeping entire homes full of comfy, humid air, this unit holds enough water to work for up to three days at a time.
Features:
- Holds up to 3.6 gallons of water at once
- Covers up to 3,600 square feet for complete home coverage
- Customizable humidity settings and 4 different fan speeds
- Can run for up to 3 days on a single tank
- Has a filter indicator for easy maintenance
PROS
This humidifier is perfect for pet owners who want to target a large area of space. The adjustable humidity level also makes it easy for users to adjust the humidifier according to your preference.
CONS
Since this is a large humidifier, you might see a noticeable increase in your utility bill depending on your usage habits. Moreover, the bulky unit will probably need to sit on the ground, so it might not be the best choice for owners with curious children or canines.
4. BIZOND Ultrasonic Humidifier
About: This ultrasonic humidifier by BIZOND is a great all-around solution for keeping you and your floof comfortable at home. Designed for maximum flexibility, this humidifier offers numerous speeds and provides warm or cool mist.
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BIZOND Ultrasonic Humidifier
Capable of humidifying the air in rooms up to nearly 500 square feet in size, this model can produce warm or cool mist to suit your needs.
Features:
- Offers both warm and cool mist for year-round use
- Automatically shuts off at a low water level
- Removable water tank for an easy refill
- Operates up to 24 hours with a single fill
- 3 different speed settings for added flexibility
PROS
Users loved the flexible cool and warm mist settings of this humidifier. Plus, the different speed settings made it easier for pet owners to dial in the perfect humidity level for their home and pets.
CONS
This humidifier uses a silver ion filter that needs to be replaced annually. While there aren’t many critical reviews, this filter should be used with distilled water which may be an inconvenience for some pooch parents.
5. Honeywell Warm Moisture Humidifier
About: This warm moisture humidifier by Honeywell is perfect for dispersing warm, humidifying mist throughout your home. And because of its relatively small size and modest capacity, it’s easy to tote around your home.
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Honeywell Warm Moisture Humidifier
This easy-to-move unit only holds about one gallon of water, but it’ll operate continuously for up to 24 hours and features high- and low-speed settings.
Features:
- Holds up to 1 gallon of water at a time
- Runs up to 24 hours with one fill
- Features high and low-speed settings
- Embedded auto-shutoff feature
PROS
Owners loved how easy this humidifier was to use and that it didn’t require the use of filters. It’s easy to carry from place to place, and it is quiet enough to use while sleeping.
CONS
Though you won’t have to buy filters, it’s recommended that you clean out the humidifier on a weekly basis. Some users also experienced some light leaking while refilling this humidifier, so make sure this humidifier is placed on a surface that can handle getting a little wet.
6. Vicks Nursery 1 Gallon Vaporizer
About: This vaporizer by Vicks is the perfect pick for dog lovers on a budget. Reminiscent of the style your parents may have used when you were a child, this no-frills humidifier is great for owners seeking a deal.
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Vicks Nursery 1 Gallon Vaporizer
A straight-forward warm mist humidifier with a one gallon capacity, this is a great option for owners who don’t want to spend any more than necessary.
Features:
- Warm mist vaporizer with a 1-gallon capacity
- Compact size makes it easy to place anywhere throughout the house
- Lasts for 12 to 18 hours on a single fill
- Can be used with hard tap water
PROS
This warm mist humidifier is a great value for the price. Plus, the compact size makes it easy for users to place the unit up and out of reach of curious pups.
CONS
If your tap water doesn’t have enough mineral deposits, this unit may need to have some salt added to function properly. Moreover, the LED light cannot be shut-off, so you might not want to have this unit on while sleeping.
Geography, Climate Control, and Your Pet
As you can see from the map below, humidity levels vary significantly from one city to the next.
Pet owners in the southwestern United States should seriously consider adding a humidifier to their home, given the desert-like conditions of the region. However, pet owners in yellow or green areas must also think about the air moisture in their homes.
Understand that this image displays outdoor humidity. Inside your home, where your central heating or air are humming, the humidity is often much lower, which may make your pooch uncomfortable.
Image from Forbes.
Selecting The Right Pet Humidifier
To the best of our knowledge, there aren’t any humidifiers designed specifically for dogs. Most “pet humidifiers” are for maintaining high humidity levels in reptile, amphibian, or small animal habitats.
However, plenty of models will work just fine for your four-footer. Just be sure that you understand the differences between different humidifier types, so you can pick the best model for your pooch.
- Cool Mist Humidifiers — These are probably one of the most common humidifier types you can find. These humidifiers use a filter to trap impurities in water. Then, the humidifier releases a cooling mist. While these humidifiers are easy to clean, they may be a bit noisier than warm air humidifiers.
- Warm Mist Humidifiers — You’ll commonly see these humidifiers used in an effort to treat cold or allergy symptoms. The electric units heat water before it’s released as a vapor. These humidifiers need to be used with caution around dogs since they have a heating element.
- Ultrasonic — Ultrasonic humidifiers come in both warm and cool varieties. These units create mist using vibration technology, making them extremely quiet. Ultrasonic humidifiers may cost a bit more upfront than other humidifier options, but they serve as a very safe and easy to use option.
- Vaporizer — Vaporizers are electrically powered and can create either cool or warm mist. However, since there is a heating element involved, they might not be the best choice for homes with pets.
- Central or Built-In Humidifiers — These humidifiers are typically made to increase humidity levels throughout an entire house. Central or built-in humidifiers need to be installed by a professional, and the units can be costly.
- Whole House Humidifiers — These humidifiers are not built-in like central humidifiers. Whole House humidifiers have a large size that makes them well-suited for covering a big area. Though these units aren’t very portable, they can hold a large capacity of water so you won’t have to refill them quite as often as smaller units.
Dog Humidifier: Things to Think About
In addition to humidifier type, here are a couple of other factors to take into consideration when picking out an appropriate pet humidifier for your home.
Keep Safety In Mind
You’ll want to be extra careful when picking out a humidifier that uses a heating element. Moreover, if you have a curious canine, it might be best to steer clear from units that need to be placed on the floor.
Maintenance
Humidifiers all require some form of regular maintenance, so make sure you select a unit that’s easy to clean. Pup parents can be extremely busy, so make sure this is a priority if you already have a packed schedule.
Noise Level
If you’re a light sleeper, you’ll definitely want to look for a humidifier that has low noise output. An ultrasonic humidifier, for example, would make a great, quiet choice.
Power Requirements
Some humidifiers require a lot of power to operate, so be sure to look for energy-efficient models that may reduce your intake. Further, you may see a potential increase on your energy bill, especially if you invest in a large, high-power unit.
Humidifier Type
Make sure you’re getting the right humidifier for your climate. For example, a household in a hot and arid environment will benefit from a cool-mist humidifier over other types.
Safe Use of Pet Humidifiers
Here are some ways you can ensure Fido’s safety while using a humidifier at home.
- Steer Clear of Essential Oils — While some of these humidifiers provide a place to hold essential oils, it’s best to only use water in your pet humidifier. Essential oils can be potentially hazardous to dogs if inhaled or ingested, even in small amounts, so it’s a good idea to avoid their use entirely.
- Place the Humidifier In A Safe Space — You’ll want to make sure your humidifier is isolated from your pooch to keep Fido safe. Or, if you have a humidifier sits on the ground, make sure it’s an area your dog can’t access.
- Turn Off When Not In Use — Though many of these humidifiers have auto shut-off features, it’s a good idea to turn them off when you’re not home or actively using the unit.
- Keep It Clean! — In order to function properly, air humidifiers need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Be sure to read your manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you’re maintaining your humidifier properly.
- Use Extreme Care With Brachycephalic (Short-Faced) Breeds — These breeds are notorious for having breathing difficulties on their own, so you’ll definitely need to consult your veterinarian if you have an adorable pug mix or Shih-Tzu at home before acquiring a humidifier.
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Keeping our dogs comfortable is our number one goal as pet parents. With the safe use of a pet humidifier, your pooch will feel ready to relax.
Have you found success with any of these humidifiers? What do you do to make sure Fido feels comfortable? We’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!
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