How to Detect Antifreeze Poisoning in Pets

The taste and smell of antifreeze are attractive to animals, and
ingesting it can be deadly. Here's how to spot possible ingestion
so you can seek help immediately.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog Bones
• Dog Carriers
• Propylene Glycol Antifreeze

1. Prevent antifreeze poisoning by keeping antifreeze away from animals, including antifreeze puddles that sometimes form under cars.

2. Take your pet to the veterinarian immediately if you catch him tasting antifreeze or think he has done so.

3. Visit the veterinarian immediately as well if you notice signs of ingestion such as stupor, swaggering, weaving, listlessness, frequent urination, excess thirst or vomiting.

4. Understand that in the second stage of poisoning, the liver will metabolize ethylene glycol into more toxic substances.

5. Consider using new, safer propylene glycol antifreeze, which is less hazardous to animals.

Tips & Warnings

• An animal must be taken to the veterinarian within 12 hours of ingesting antifreeze. After 12 to 24 hours, kidney failure will occur, followed eventually by death.
• In freezing weather, the only water that's not frozen may contain antifreeze. so don't allow your pet to drink from puddles.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Ask a Dog Vet Online Now

[alaskadeb]

on 7/6/2009 I can not stress enough on how deadly Ethylene Glycol, the main ingrediant in Anti-freeze is. I lost my dog of eight years to it. It still hurts my heart. That was three years ago. After further investigating I was completely shocked to learn how many toddlers and small children are killed from ethylene glycol anti-freeze. PLEASE change your autos over to Propylene Glycol. At least purchase the anti-freeze with a bittering agent in it. In some states it has already been illegal to sell and purchase the ethylene glycol anti-freeze. PLEASE write, email, call, your State Senator and help protect our children and our pets (our "other" children) from being poisened and dying. The vet said my dog, who weighed 67 pounds, consumed only 2 Tablespoons of ethylene glycol, died in less than 24 hours. This was with the antidote. Now consider what your average toddler weighs.

[ryath]

on 5/16/2009 Get the animal to a vet ASAP.Believe it or not, vodka is now used on animals with antifreeze poisoning - its given intravenously so don't try it at home.

[SharonLamb]

on 9/16/2008 My nephew suspects his two dogs have been poisoned by anti freeze as of September 10, 2008. If they were poisoned, would they be still be alive. They have diahhrea, they are favoring their lower back and scratching and stomach, biting their paws, legs are hot. Please let us know anything. [e-mail]

on 11/22/2005 One way to reduce the number of pets being accidentally poisoned is to write to your State member. Ask that manufacturers for antifreeze add a bittering agent into their product. It is better to prevent the situation arising in the first place, than wait for a pet to be poisoned.