Pair of provincial groups warn BC residents on carbon monoxide poisoning to pets

Technical Safety BC and the provincial SPCA are teaming up to help residents catch signs of carbon monoxide poisoning early in their furry friends.

Exposure to carbon monoxide — produced by burning carbon fuels such as propane, natural gas, oil, wood, charcoal, alcohol, kerosine, or gasoline — can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb oxygen- this can lead to serious illness or death, in both humans and our pets.

According to both groups, carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless, and tasteless, and pets can often show signs of exposure before humans do.

Carbon monoxide exposure symptoms in pets include:

• Weakness
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Difficulty breathing
• Respiratory and cardiac disturbances
• Permanent deafness and blindness
• Coma

“As the weather gets colder, we close windows and vents and start using our gas heating appliances more often. If gas appliances are not working properly it can result in dangerous carbon monoxide incidents that could affect people and pets. This is why knowing the symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure and taking precautions like having a working carbon monoxide detector and hiring a licensed contractor to regularly inspect gas appliances are so important,” said Ryan Hazlett, Technical Safety BC’s leader incident investigation.

Along with installing a carbon monoxide detector, other ways to prevent carbon monoxide exposure include:

• Never ignoring the carbon monoxide alarm when it goes off
• Never leaving your pet in an enclosed garage with the vehicle running
• Never operating portable fuel-burning devices, such as camp stoves, barbeques or generators indoors or in closed spaces
• Scheduling an annual inspection of your gas appliances by a licensed contractor or qualified individual.

“While they don’t use words, our pets often know how to tell us something is wrong through their behaviour. We all know stories where pets have warned their humans of impending danger. This is just another example,” said Dr. Kyla Townsend, veterinarian with the BC SPCA.

“Paying attention to irritable or unusual behaviour in our pets is crucial as it’s often a sign that something is wrong. These could all be signs of carbon monoxide exposure.”

So far this year there have been two significant carbon monoxide exposure incidents involving pets in BC.

One of them occurred at the BC SPCA’s Maple Ridge community animal centre. All the animals and employees were evacuated safely. Following the incident, the group installed CO detectors in all relevant centres, clinics, and hospitals and the SPCA’s provincial office.

Sadly, the other incident that occurred in a home resulting in the death of a family pet.