Keeping pets safe when preparing household for cold weather

URBANA, Ill. — Cold weather is here and it’s time to winterize the car, pull out the space heaters, and thwart invading rodents. For pet owners, however, these common seasonal activities should be approached with caution because of the potential hazards for pets.

Michael Biehl, a veterinary toxicologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, offers advice on keeping pets safe.

Dogs that spend the summer months outside may be moved to the garage when temperatures drop. Biehl points out there are many hazards in a typical garage that require “pet proofing” before it is ready for Fido.

Dangerous fluid

Antifreeze has a sweet taste that attracts pets (and children), but its main component is ethylene glycol, which is highly toxic and potentially fatal. According to Biehl, any amount of exposure should be considered serious.

“Signs associated with ethylene glycol toxicity include loss of coordination, vomiting and an increase in heart rate. The last stage of this toxicity is kidney failure and death,” says Biehl.

If an animal may have ingested antifreeze, it is important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible so the proper course of treatment can be administered.

For questions regarding how to properly dispose of antifreeze, call your local sewage treatment plant to determine local regulations regarding disposal in the sewage system.

Another option is to take antifreeze to an automotive shop for disposal, as they collect large amounts they have specific disposal regulations and practices, although they may charge a disposal fee.

Deadly gas

Propane or kerosene space heaters can also pose a threat to animals that are confined to a garage. If these heaters are not working properly, they may release carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that is color and odorless.

They should be used only in a room that is well ventilated, never in a closed garage. An animal exposed to carbon monoxide in a confined space will exhibit drowsiness, weakness and a lack of coordination.

Treatment includes getting the animal to a well-ventilated area and providing oxygen. If treatment is not administered quickly, the animal will fall into a coma and eventually die.

Pest poison

Pets and people are not the only creatures that want to come indoors when it gets cold. Mice and other rodents are also seeking a warm shelter, which leads some homeowners to put out poisons.

Unfortunately, dogs and cats regularly find the rodent bait, which typically contains bromethalin (a neurotoxin), cholecalciferol or various types of anticoagulants.

Anticoagulant rodenticides work by inhibiting the blood clotting cascade, so animals eventually die of internal bleeding. Cholecalciferol ingestion results in elevated concentrations of calcium in the blood, which causes many problems. And as little as two teaspoons of bromethalin is toxic to a 25-pound dog, while the fatal dose for cats is half of that for dogs.

“Acute signs of bromethalin toxicity include agitation, hind limb paralysis, tremors, seizures and death,” says Biehl.

“An animal that survives the first 24 hours may linger up to five more days in the chronic phase with flexed forelimbs, rigid hind limbs, and terminal seizures.”

“The bottom line is, an animal that may have gotten into rodent bait should immediately be taken to see a veterinarian,” says Biehl.

“It’s important to bring the packaging of the rodenticide and to note the approximate time and amount that the pet has eaten. This information will help the veterinarian determine the appropriate course of treatment.”

Precautions

Luckily, avoiding these potential hazards can be as simple as keeping the antifreeze on a top shelf or in a closed cabinet and avoiding animal exposures when using it, using properly working propane/kerosene heaters only in well-ventilated areas, and using humane mouse traps instead of rodenticides.

For more information about animal toxicants, or if you think your pet may have ingested something toxic, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.