URBANA, Ill. — The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported a significant increase in carbon monoxide poisoning cases among companion animals in the first quarter of 2026, attributing the spike to improper generator use following winter storms and flooding events across the South and Midwest.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, which operates a 24-hour hotline for pet poisoning emergencies, logged 312 CO-related calls involving pets between January 1 and March 31, 2026 — a 40% increase over the same period in 2025. The vast majority of cases involved dogs and cats in homes where portable generators were operated in garages, basements, or enclosed porches.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced by combustion engines. Because pets spend more time at floor level and have faster respiratory rates than humans, they often show symptoms of CO poisoning before their owners do — making them an inadvertent early warning system, but also placing them at greater risk of fatal exposure.
Symptoms of CO poisoning in pets include bright red gums, weakness, vomiting, disorientation, and collapse. The ASPCA recommends that any pet showing these signs after generator use be moved immediately to fresh air and transported to an emergency veterinary clinic.
The National Fire Protection Association and FEMA both recommend that generators be operated at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent. Restoration contractors performing post-storm work should ensure that any generators used on-site are positioned away from occupied structures and that CO detectors are installed before residents return.
