Antifreeze Poisoning in Dogs: Charlotte Pet Sitter Shares the Danger

I remember years ago getting a call from a client one morning, she was in tears.  She was in the animal hospital with her dog who was very very sick.  The veterinarian told her that they had to keep the dog there to observe him.  It turns out the dog had licked up some anti-freeze from her garage. I wanted to take a moment and highlight the dangers of antifreeze with the help of PetMD.

Antifreeze, or automotive radiator coolant, is the most readily available source of ethylene glycol. This colorless, odorless, possibly sweet-tasting liquid is highly toxic to dogs.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, ethylene glycol is the second most common cause of fatal poisonings in animals. This is likely due to the readily availability of antifreeze, its possible pleasant taste, and the fact that just a small amount can be fatal. The Humane Society Legislative Fund estimates that at least 10,000-90,000 animals die each year from antifreeze poisoning.

In 2012, manufacturers in the United States started adding a bittering agent to antifreeze to combat this problem. However, there is currently no evidence whether this has made the product less palatable to dogs.

Unfortunately, dogs can easily get into antifreeze when it leaks from cars. They can drink from puddles of antifreeze or just step in them and lick the antifreeze off their paws. Even ingesting just a little antifreeze can be fatal—less than ½ a teaspoon per pound can be enough to kill a dog.

Antifreeze poisoning affects the gastrointestinal tract, liver, brain, and kidneys. Once ingested, ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and metabolized in the liver, leading to acute kidney failure.

Aside from antifreeze, there are many other sources of ethylene glycol, including windshield deicing agents, brake fluid, motor oil, photography developing solutions, wood stains, solvents, inks/printer cartridges, eye masks, snow globes, and winterized toilet bowls.

Here’s what you need to know about the symptoms to watch for, what to do if you think your dog ingested antifreeze, how antifreeze poisoning is treated, and tips for keeping your dog away from this toxic substance.

For more in depth information: https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/poisoning-toxicity/antifreeze-poisoning-dogs

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