Please note that some posts contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links Find out More

Sweet Pet Poison: Your Guide to Cat & Dog Antifreeze Poisoning

by | Nov 11, 2022 | Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care | 0 comments

Sweet Pet Poison: Your Guide to Cat & Dog Antifreeze Poisoning

FTC noticePets often get into poisons by accidentally eating the wrong plant, or other dangerous toxins. Today the temperature dropped from the low 80s to the mid-thirties, yikes! With the pending change in the weather and when temperatures fall, cat and dog antifreeze poisoning becomes a danger. It’s important to prevent but also to recognize antifreeze dog poison symptoms.

You’ll find antifreeze in surprising places, not just in the garage. For instance, the liquid in snow globes can poison pets when the toy breaks. Recently, social media shared many stories of antifreeze poisoning cats from the liquid in broken snow globes. The liquid tastes sweet, so it’s very appealing for sweet-loving dogs to drink or lick up spills on the garage floor. Puppies are the worst, eating anything that doesn’t move faster than they do. Cats also are at risk when they walk through puddles and lick and groom the liquid off their body. Other places you find antifreeze include:

  • Paints and solvents
  • Brake fluid
  • Windshield-washer fluids
  • De-icers
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Detergents
  • Printer cartridges
  • Ballpoint pens

People also use antifreeze to winterizing outdoor pools, the toilets in winter campsites, or fountains to prevent freezing.

antifreeze poisoningPoisoning by Antifreeze

Composed of ethylene glycol, the odorless, colorless fluid is used to protect cars from freezing temperatures. It’s also used to remove rust and found in some color film processing solutions used in home darkrooms. If you catch your pet drinking antifreeze, call your emergency vet.

Antifreeze is deadly. It takes very little to make the dog or cat mortally sick. About one-half teaspoon per pound of pet is lethal. That means a ten-pound cat could ingest as little as five teaspoons and be affected, while an average-size dog weighing 45 pounds would need to drink less than three ounces. All dogs and cats are at risk, but those younger than three years old are affected most often, probably because of the curious nature of youth. Most poisonings take place during the fall, winter, and early spring when we use more antifreeze.

Your pet’s survival depends on quick treatment. The pet’s body rapidly absorbs the toxin. Peak blood concentrations happen within one to three hours after ingestion. You’ll notice the first symptoms one hour after poisoning. Pets can die from kidney failure in as little as four to eight hours.

symptoms of antifreeze poisonAntifreeze Dog Poisoning Symptoms (Cats, too!)

One of the earliest signs is an increased thirst. That results in urine output of approximately six times the norm, within three hours of ingestion. The pet may develop sudden potty accidents when that happens. Once absorbed into the bloodstream, the poison enters the brain and spinal fluid, causing neurologic signs. You can see:

  • Staggering as though drunk
  • Weakness
  • Depression
  • loss of appetite
  • panting
  • excessive drooling
  • rapid heart rate

Convulsions, though rare, can also be a sign of poisoning. Although the substance is not particularly irritating to the gastrointestinal tract, sometimes pets vomit. The more antifreeze the pet passes in the urine early on, the better, because the substance is at first relatively harmless.

But within only a couple of hours, the body changes ethylene glycol into oxalic acid. This extremely toxic substance used as a bleaching and cleaning agent destroys the urinary tract and severely damages the kidneys. It’s not the antifreeze itself, but the oxalic acid that kills pets. Oxalic acid can combine with calcium to form crystals which block the flow of urine.

Don’t be fooled when your pet acts recovered in about 12 to 18 hours. Although symptoms fade, kidney damage continues, sometimes over a week’s time. The pet eventually stops peeing, and renal failure causes coma and death.

puppy antifreeze poisonHome First Aid for Antifreeze Poisoning

If you see your pet drink antifreeze, or if you can’t get to the vet within two hours, make him vomit out the poison immediately. Then get him to the vet. Beyond this two-hour window, the poisoning will already be in his system and vomiting won’t help. Don’t induce vomiting if your cat or dog acts depressed, is not fully conscious, or acts drunk.

To induce vomiting, give 3% hydrogen peroxide to your pet in a dose of one teaspoon per five pounds of body weight. For big dogs, give no more than three teaspoons at once. If the pet doesn’t vomit, you can repeat the same dose up to three times, given 10 minutes apart until the dog vomits. Then get him to the veterinarian.

Administering activated charcoal, available from your drugstore, also improves your pet’s chance of survival. After you’ve induced vomiting, or if you’re unable to get him to vomit, give him the crushed tablets mixed with water. Charcoal binds the poison to prevent its absorption in the intestinal tract. Follow up any first aid by a veterinarian’s evaluation as soon as possible. Treatment begun after 24 hours following poisoning offers only a slim chance of recovery. Refer to more pet first aid information here.

antifreeze poisoningHow to Cure Antifreeze Poisoning

Your vet offers the best options for how to cure antifreeze poisoning. Dogs need to receive treatment within five to eight hours, but cats are more susceptible to toxins and need treatment within three hours. Treatment prevents further absorption or metabolism of the poison, and increases urination to get rid of it. Up to three hours following ingestion, the veterinarian will flush the dog’s stomach with a saline/charcoal solution. Intravenous fluid therapy helps head off dehydration and also encourages your dog to urinate as much antifreeze as possible before it’s changed into its more lethal form.

For a while, veterinarians used an effective antidote called fomepizole aka Antizol. Because of problems getting the ingredients, it’s no longer available. That makes prevention of poisoning, and early supportive treatment even more important for your pet.

Perhaps you’ve heard about and wondered, can you treat antifreeze poisoning with alcohol? Yes! Treatment comprises hospitalizing the pet to administer 100 proof ethanol alcohol intravenously over several days. This forces the liver to deal with the alcohol instead of metabolizing the antifreeze into oxalic acid. That also gives the pet more time to urinate out the unchanged antifreeze. The treatment, though, poses additional risks to pets, so prevention remains the best policy.

dog antifreeze treatmentDialysis for Pets?

What if your dog suffers kidney failure? People suffering from kidney failure benefit from dialysis machines, but this luxury is rarely available for our pets. Major veterinary schools may have the specialized equipment.

But peritoneal dialysis offers an effective, low-tech alternative your vet may perform. THe doctor pumps fluid into the pet’s abdominal cavity where it absorbs waste the damaged kidneys can’t process. Then the veterinarian draws the waste-filled fluid back out. Peritoneal dialysis gives the kidneys more time to heal, so that normal function can return. It takes three to four weeks for kidneys to return to normal or near normal function. That can require aggressive therapy, including hospitalization.

Severe kidney damage won’t respond to treatment. Kidney transplants work extremely well in cats, with the procedure offered at some specialty vet clinics. But dogs aren’t great candidates for transplant. A dog’s body rejects a donated kidney that doesn’t closely match their own tissue. Littermates are the best chance of a match. Take steps now to prevent poisoning by antifreeze and save your pets and you the expense and heartbreak of treating antifreeze poisoning.

Prevent Antifreeze Poisoning with Pet Safe Antifreeze

Prevent the possibility of poisoning by keeping antifreeze out of your pet’s reach. Make garages and storage areas off limits to your pets. Dispose of drained radiator fluid in a sealed container and be sure to clean spills immediately. Cover the liquid with cat litter, sand, or baking soda to absorb the mess, and make it less appealing to curious pets.

Today, many manufacturers throughout the United States add a bitter flavoring agent called denatonium benzoate to antifreeze. That makes them less attractive to pets and kids. Look for alternative antifreeze products that use less-toxic chemicals such as propylene glycol. You’ll still need to remain vigilant, of course. Here are a few veterinarian-recommended brands that are safer for use around pets and wildlife, and ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.:

Keep a good first aid reference on hand for peace of mind, like The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats. But always make your vet the first call, for the sake of your pet.

YouTube Button

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!

 

 

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories:

Recent Posts

Update on Cyprus Cats: New FIP Strain Identified

This past summer I reported on the apparent FIP outbreak among cats on the island of Cyprus. As thousands of cats quickly sickened and died from signs of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), experts puzzled over why. While the feline-specific illness tragically kills most infected cats (if not given expensive hard-to-access treatment), pockets of “outbreaks” had previously been limited to handfuls of cats in cattery or shelter population.

But in Cyprus, things changed. Here’s the update…stranger than fiction, but true.

How To Give Pets As Gifts

Giving pets as gifts prompts discussions every time the subject comes up. Most recently, we got our “gift puppy” and “gift kitten” when they adopted us, and we’re so glad Karma-Kat and Shadow-Pup are part of our holidays. But for many folks, this year means a new puppy or new kitten for Christmas. Learn how to gift pets–and please share your experiences in the comments!

The professionals used to say that the holidays were a TERRIBLE time to get a new pet–that impulse adoptions could leave the cat or dog without a home after the cute-holiday-thrills wore off. More recently, though, the ASPCA conducted some surveys and discovered that when done properly, these adoptions can be lasting, loving adoptions. So I had to re-think my advice.

Holidays tend to be hectic times when normal routines go out the window. Whether a baby, adult, or senior rescue cat or dog, new animals need the stability of knowing what to expect. In fact, some holiday schedules may allow you to be home more during this time to help the new kitty or pooch adjust.

Holiday pets take more work, true. But just think: you’re not only giving the pet to a person—you’re giving a special human to a waiting cat or dog, a fur-kid hungry for a loving, permanent home. Happy holidays, indeed!

Mystery Canine Respiratory Disease? What We Know

Each fall and winter heralds a rise in respiratory illnesses in people–and also in dogs. Like humans, dogs can contract a number of hacking, wheezing, coughing, yucky illnesses that make them feel bad. Canine respiratory diseases get lumped together as canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC). These are a constellation of different illnesses resulting from viral, fungal, or bacterial infections.

One of the most common, kennel cough, spreads easily from dog to dog. It gets its name because dogs housed closely together in kennels, boarding facilities, shelters, and similar places provide the perfect transmission opportunity. But recently, an apparent increase in dog respiratory disease has owners, and many vets concerned.

13 Pet Holiday Dangers to Avoid: How to Keep Cats & Dogs Safe

I write about pet holiday dangers every year. This listicle (and a fun infographic at the bottom) offers more than a dozen problems. I’ve included links to more detailed information for those wanting a deeper dive on all the must-knows for pet holiday safety!

Merry Cat-Mas & Doggy Ho-Ho-Ho! Here’s How to Create a Tree for the Pets

Have you decked the halls yet with your howl-iday decor? What do the pets think? Have they joined in the spirit of ho-ho-ho and wreaked havoc? Or do they ignore the festivities?

The Christmas tree might as well be an early holiday gift to your cats and dogs. Pets can’t resist the urge to sniff, claw, water—and scale the branches to reach the highest possible perch. Don’t blame your cat or dog. It’s normal for cats to compete for the top spot (literally and figuratively) to secure their place in kitty society, and dogs may want to “mark” the convenient indoor doggy signpost.

Protect your precious memories by pet-proofing to prevent breakage (yes, this happened to me!) And give your pets something “legal” to enjoy. Here’s how to create pet safe holiday fun for cats and dogs.

Playing Around…in SISTER ACT Musical!

From time to time, I’m blessed to participate in the local community theater productions. Sometimes, that means playing cello or keyboard in the loft, and other times, onstage. This month, I’m “playing around” as Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours, a nun in SISTER ACT musical. We open Friday December 1 and run three weekends (Thursday-Sunday matinee) through December 17th.

Cat Books Sale: “When you get a cat, there should be 4 requirements by law:

I was born to love pets & spread JOY! My books bring smiles, save lives, and reduce vet bills. So I put ALL MY CAT BOOKS ON SALE…cuz maybe you’ll want to “adopt” more of my 35+ award-winning pet books or share the purr-fect love with other pet lovers.

You can get ’em for full price on Amazon, BUT…

Dog Books Sale: “One of the best I have read…”

I was born to love pets & spread JOY! My books bring smiles, save lives, and reduce vet bills. So I put ALL MY DOG BOOKS ON SALE…cuz maybe you’ll want to “adopt” more of my 35+ award-winning pet books or share the purr-fect love with other pet lovers.

You can get ’em for full price on Amazon, BUT…

Counting Thanksgiving Blessings, the Pet Writer Way in 2023

Time for my annual Count My Blessings post. The past year has meant change, change, and more change, and that’s good and also challenging. But some things never change…I’m thankful to you—yes, those who read this blog, the cat book lovers, and the dog book lovers, and folks who have “adopted” my thriller series. And those who offered awesome applause and support any of the other venues mentioned…

7 Tips How to Prepare Cats, Dogs, and People for Holiday Visits

How to Prepare Cats, Dogs, and People for Holiday Visits

Holiday celebrations include visiting family and friends. It also means keeping pets safe during the holidays. Since we consider cats and dogs part of the family, pet holiday visits require special preparations. Changes to routine can increase fear, anxiety, and stress in everyone, and especially our pets. Hitting the road also raises stress levels, so unless your pets adore car travel, prepare with advice in this article. Here are some tips for reducing the angst once you arrive, so that everyone enjoys family pet holiday visits.

Visit Amy's Website

Amy Shojai CACB is an award winning author.  You can find all her publications and book her to speak via her website. 

On Demand Writer Coaching

AmyShojai.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com http://amazon.com/.

Awards

Memberships