You wouldn't dream of giving your precious pet a dose of poison, would you? Or even allow them to be around a toxic substance? But, many people do just that by accident, by draining the antifreeze from the car into the driveway or gutter.
The colorless, odorless active ingredient in antifreeze is ethlene glycol, which attracts pets with its sweet taste. Although a few companies are now making antifreeze with ingredients non-toxic to pets, most cars and trucks have enough ethylene glycol to kill all the pets in town - it only takes a lick or two of the liquid in the gutter to seriously damage the kidneys. Symptoms appear within 20-30 minutes and may include vomiting, depression, lack of coordination, and weakness. Early diagnosis is imperative to treat the animal - without treatment within 24 hours, the animal may experience severe kidney damage, could lapse into a coma and may die.
Keep antifreeze in tightly-capped, leakproof containers and dispose of drained material by taking it to a service station for proper disposition. Thoroughly clean up any spills with paper towels or newspaper and discard in a trash can with a lid.
1. Clean antifreeze spills and leaks immediately.
2. Supervise your dog around driveways and parked cars, and walk dogs on leashes.
3. If you suspect your dog may have ingested antifreeze, take it to a veterinarian immediately.
4. Educate pet sitters about the dangers and keep your veterinarian's phone number handy.
5. Replace ethylene glycol-based antifreeze with propylene glycol-based antifreeze.
