Did you know dogs can die from carbon monoxide poisoning too?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas. When it is present the gas is absorbed into the bloodstream and forms a compound that causes a reduced oxygen supply to the heart and brain.
The most common cause of carbon monoxide poisoning is from non-vented and poorly ventilated furnace, gas water heaters, gas/kerosene space heaters in your home or it can be a faulty exhaust system. I started thinking to about our heated dog kennels or spaces we put our dogs to keep warm are we paying attention to the ventilation also.
Also a running car in an enclosed area, smoke inhalation in a burning building, and get this a cargo area in an airplane are all places for carbon monoxide poisoning
Common signs of poisoning are drowsiness, lethargy, weakness, bright red color to the skin and gums, difficulty breathing, coma and sudden death. Now sometimes we can be exposed at lower levels on a consistent basis and we need to watch our dogs for excercise intolerance changes in their gate being wobbly when walking and disturbances in their normal reflexes. If you see any of these signs start checking the heating system and your ventilation.
Just like humans we need to protect our dogs. We need to minimize exposure by using carbon monoxide detectors They can be bought at any home improvement store and they have dual purpose detectors to that are useful. I think investing in a detector is a lot less expensive than having to take our dog to the vet or having the possibility of losing a beloved friend
