Now that we are getting ready for the winter and cooler months, let us talk about a “Silent Killer” that we often forget about – Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Whether you are just turning the furnace on for the season, or taking this time to make sure your home is being winterized and checked for the season.
Let the following statistic sink in a bit .. the Harris Poll reached out in 2020 to over 1,300 U.S. pet owners and over 500 Canadian pet owners, 53% of American and 61% of Canadian pet owners are not confident they could identify the symptoms of CO poisoning in their pets. About 36% of pet owners in both the U.S. and Canada do not have or do not know if they have a CO alarm in their homes!
- What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? Carbon Monoxide is a gas that is tasteless and odorless that is produced when burning fuels. Gas, Wood, Propane, and charcoal all produce CO.
- How can this happen to my pets and myself? Generally from household appliances such as Furnaces, Stoves, Dryers, and water heaters.
- What are the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? The duration of exposure will bring more symptoms out most likely on top of the severity of those symptoms. Nausea, Vomiting, Cough, Flu-Like Symptoms, Disturbance in Gait, Sleepiness, Weakness, Lethargy, Dizziness, Seizures, Uncoordinated movements, Difficulty in Breathing, Abortion in pregnant animals, especially those in late gestation period, Depression, Loss of Hearing, Coma, Death
- What do I do if I suspect or know that my pet(s) or myself have been exposed to Carbon Monoxide? Seek veterinary care immediately at your local clinic, or check in at the Urgent care/Emergency room.
So take the time and change the batteries in all Smoke Alarms, CO Alarms, and Furnace Alarms right now! You should have a CO detector near each gas appliance in your home which should have batteries changed every 3 months. I hope this information is helpful!
References:
- ASPCA, “Protecting Your Pets and Your Family From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning”; ASPCA Article
- PETMD, “Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Dogs”; PETMD Article
- PETMD, “Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Cats”; PETMD Article
- PR Newswire, “Majority of US and Canadian Pet Owners are Unable to Identify Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Their Pets; PR Newswire Article
