![]() Smokers will be more susceptible because they already have an elevated level of carbon monoxide in their bloodstream. Usually, though, both people and pets should be treated when the carbon monoxide saturation level is ten percent or higher. ![]() Twenty-five percent saturation level is considered dangerous for people. When only a small amount of the blood is affected, the victim recovers without treatment as long as no more poison is inhaled.īut high levels of blood saturation will kill the person or pet unless emergency treatment is given. The liver and spleen replace hemoglobin about every ten to fifteen days. The body can only get rid of the poison bound to the hemoglobin by breathing it out, or by replacing the poisoned hemoglobin with new. A distinctive sign common to both people and pets are bright cherry-red gums in the mouth. But they do act confused, lethargic, and drunk in the same way as human victims. We don’t know if poisoned pets suffer headaches because they can’t tell us about this early sign. When the victim is asleep during exposure to the poison, the dog, cat, bird or the person may never wake up. Ultimately, the poison victim falls into a coma. Higher concentrations cause headache, confusion and disorientation, and flu-like symptoms with vomiting. In heart patients, it can cause chest pains. The most common symptom of human carbon monoxide poisoning (low doses) in otherwise healthy people is fatigue that clears up when you leave the house. The gas creates a kind of chemical suffocation. This blocks the hemoglobin from using or carrying oxygen at all, which affects all areas of the body including the brain. There it binds with hemoglobin, the oxygen-transporting component of blood. When inhaled, the lungs absorb carbon monoxide, and it spills into the bloodstream. Magic and Karma loved hanging out together! HOW CARBON MONOXIDE POISONS Birds are particularly susceptible and like Gumby, may be the first to show signs.Īn improperly vented fireplace can cause carbon monoxide poisoning affecting you, and your best friends. However, carbon monoxide is lighter than air, so pets that live at human knee level may not show symptoms as quickly as their owners. ![]() The gas causes the same symptoms in dogs and cats as in their owners. Children and pets have died in as little as 15 minutes inside running cars while parents shoveled snow outside the vehicle, unaware of the blocked tailpipe. ![]() It can quickly kill people as well as their pets. It’s a natural by-product of fuel combustion present in car exhaust and improperly vented furnaces, space heaters, water heaters, fireplaces, and tobacco smoke. WHAT IS CARBON MONOXIDEĬarbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. The diagnosis was carbon monoxide poisoning, traced to a malfunctioning heater that could have put the whole family to sleep-permanently. When Gumby began falling off his perch, they knew birdy fainting spells were not normal and sought veterinary help. But many years ago, my brother’s pet bird, Gumby, saved the family’s life when symptoms alerted them to the danger. You can get carbon monoxide detectors at local home products stores, like this First Alert detector with over 25,000 reviews. It turns out our detectors were outdated, there was no leak by the water heaters (whew!), and once they were replaced we felt safe again. Last week, our alarm system gas detector went off–WOOOOP-WOOOOP-WOOOOOP! The pets hated that, and it scared the whey out of me, too. I hope y’all have taken safety steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning–yep, it affects pets, too. But what does that have to do with carbon monoxide danger? It affects you, and your pets, especially during cold weather when we try to keep pets warm. Deja vu, because this time last year, a similar cold front shut down the whole area for more than a week. But that’s predicted to change later today. Texas boasted 60s or even 70-degree sunny days. While much of the East is dealing with a major blizzard, the past week in N. Ask Amy Shojai about Cold Weather Pet ProtectionĬat and Dog together holding blank cardboard sign to enter your message onto
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