BC SPCA reminds pet owners to watch for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

As the weather gets colder and the heat gets turned up, the BC SPCA is urging pet owners to watch for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning in animals.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week is already underway, and the society has teamed up with Technical Safety BC — an independent organization that oversees the installation of technical equipment — to help British Columbians catch the symptoms of poisoning before it’s too late.

“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,” said Technical Safety BC’s leader of incident investigation, Ryan Hazlett.

“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.”

Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless, and tasteless, and the BC SPCA says pets can often show signs of exposure before humans do. The symptoms include:

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

A veterinarian with the BC SPCA says pet owners should look for irritable or unusual behaviour as the first sign that something is wrong.

“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.

The society says two significant incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning have taken place already this year, including at a BC SPCA location in Maple Ridge, where all pets and employees had to be evacuated.

“Following the incident, where not already present, the BC SPCA has installed CO detectors in all of the relevant community animal centres, clinics, and hospitals, as well as the BC SPCA’s provincial office where gas-fired appliances exist,” the society said.

In the other case, a family pet died.

The risk of carbon monoxide exposure is reportedly Technical Safety BC’s top safety risk. The organization says if you believe your pet or people in your household are experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, you should leave the building, call emergency crews, and seek medical attention.