Antifreeze can kill

November 5, 5:33 PMLas Vegas Dog Life ExaminerJennifer Dearmin

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Toxic antifreeze
J. Dearmin

With the exception of a couple of days last month, we have been enjoying a beautiful fall in Las Vegas this year.  Winter, of course, is on its way, and now is the time to prepare for it.  One thing that many people tend to do at this time of year is change the antifreeze in their car’s radiator.  Be forewarned, however; antifreeze is highly toxic—and frequently deadly—to dogs, as well as cats.

According to Ron Hines, DVM, PhD, “Every year more than ten thousand dogs and cats are accidentally poisoned with automotive antifreeze . . . This is the most common cause of poisoning of dogs and cats in the United States.”

The main component of most antifreeze is ethylene glycol, a type of alcohol that, on its own, is not that toxic.  Once it gets metabolized by the liver, however, the resultant toxins can shut down the kidneys and can affect other systems, including the liver, lungs, heart, and nervous system.  Most often, the ultimate outcome is death.

Ironically, while antifreeze has little or no smell, it tastes sweet.  Dogs and cats will drink it freely, therefore, without knowing that it is toxic.  A medium-sized dog can die from ingesting as little as three tablespoons of this liquid.  Cats can succumb from ingesting as little as one teaspoon.  Some people theorize that if a cat even walks through it and then cleans his paws, it can be enough to kill him.

What to look for

Because ethylene glycol is a type of alcohol, animals that have ingested it will often appear drunk—staggering, vomiting, acting depressed, and displaying a general lack of coordination.  They may also drink a lot of water, urinate excessively, and even have seizures.  These symptoms may last for hours.  At some point the dog or cat will appear to be feeling better, but the toxins are still present and working on the animal’s system.  Vomiting and seizures may recur, and there may be a marked decrease in appetite and in urine output.  If not treated, dogs and cats can die within a day or two.

What to do

First, if you see your dog or cat drinking antifreeze, call your veterinarian immediately.  Your veterinarian may recommend that you get the animal to vomit, reducing the amount of toxins in his system.  Both ipecac and hydrogen pyroxide may be effective, but talk to your vet first.  The quantities and strength (i.e., dilution) of each will depend on your cat’s or dog’s size, amongst other things.  Only your veterinarian should be trusted to recommend the proper amount and to determine if induced vomiting is even indicated.  If you cannot reach your vet, the ASPCA 24-hour poison hotline is (888) 426-4435.

Secondly, don’t wait for symptoms to appear.  Get your pet to the veterinarian right away.  The timeliness of treatment may be crucial to your pet’s survival.  Follow the same guidelines if your pet presents with the symptoms mentioned—even if you haven’t witnessed him drinking any antifreeze.  Don’t be fooled if the symptoms appear to subside.

How to avoid the problem

There is at least one brand of antifreeze that contains propylene glycol (rather than ethylene glycol), which is said to be safer to pets.  If ingested, though, it can also present problems with stomach upset or with the nervous system.  The best course of action is always to call your vet.

The general consensus holds that you should keep all bottles of antifreeze securely sealed and away from pets.  Additionally, you should immediately clean up any spills or radiator leaks.  (Antifreeze is usually neon green in color.)  Taking that advice a step further, however, you might consider not even keeping antifreeze on hand.  Any automotive service shop ought to be able to change your antifreeze for you as needed.  While such an alternative may seem a bit indulgent in this economy, just think what such a simple solution might mean for your canine or feline friends.

It is worthy to note that there is a “bittering agent” (denatonium benzoate) available that manufacturers can add to antifreeze to make it less attractive to animals.  Three states have mandated that this agent be added to antifreeze.  Nevada is not one of them.

Additionally, you should avoid letting your pets roam the neighborhood unattended.  As unbelievable as it may seem, there are some malicious people who intentionally make antifreeze available for dogs and cats to partake.  Says Mike Richards, DVM, “Antifreeze poisoning causes a terrible death, and it is inexcusable for a human being to inflict that kind of suffering on a pet intentionally.  I cannot begin to understand why people would do such a thing but have personally dealt with at least one case of antifreeze toxicity in which a dog was intentionally poisoned.”

For more information:

http://www.2ndchance.info/antifreeze.htm

http://www.vetinfo.com/dtoxin.html

http://animalpetdoctor.homestead.com/PoisonAntifreeze.html

http://animalpetdoctor.homestead.com/poison.html

http://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/digestive/e_multi_antifreeze_poisoning

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/antifreeze.aspx