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This is the time of year when pets are potentially exposed to an added danger - antifreeze.  Thousands of pets die each year from antifreeze poisoning.  Typically, Spring and fall is when many people flush the coolant systems in their cars.  The chances of spilling antifreeze or having the liquid in an exposed area puts our furkids at risk.  Even though outdoor pets have a greater risk of being poisoned, we need to be mindful of our indoor pets too.  If your cats are like mine, they are escape artists and sometimes get out without my knowledge. Dogs can become exposed when taking their "person" for daily walks.

Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) has a sweet taste that attracts pets. Even in small amounts, antifreeze is lethal to all animals (and children) but dogs are probably most susceptible because of their tendency to taste everything.

Cats are less likely to lap up unknown liquids, but they can walk through puddles of antifreeze on the floor, and then lick the chemical off their fur or feet. Even a teaspoon can be fatal to your cat.

 Symptoms of Poisoning

• First symptoms can appear within 30 minutes, and involve an appearance of drunken behavior with stumbling, staggering, vomiting, extreme thirst and frequent urination. Some animals just go to sleep, so the owners are unaware that the poisoning has occurred. At the end of the first stage, the symptoms improve and the animal seems to have recovered, but heart rate and breathing speed up.
• The final stage is unfortunately the time when problems are typically noticed; this stage progresses quickly to kidney damage, kidney failure, and then coma. Signs of kidney failure include severe depression, vomiting, and diarrhea; the kidneys stop producing urine, and toxins build up in the body. Unfortunately, by the time most animals show these signs of antifreeze poisoning, it's often too late to effectively intervene.

If you remotely suspect that your pet might have gotten into some antifreeze, PLEASE rush them to the vet right away!  Getting the pet to a vet is critical within the first 9-12 hours of ingestion. After that time hope of recovery is extremely diminished due to the level of kidney metabolism. Although the induction of vomiting may help it will not cure the pet and they must get medical treatment for hope of recovery. The faster the medical attention occurs the better the chances of survival.

Tips to help prevent antifreeze poisoning

• Keep new and used antifreeze in a new and leak proof container.
• Take used antifreeze to a service station for disposal - don't pour onto the ground or down the drain.
• If you happen to notice that your vehicle does have a leak or that you see antifreeze puddled elsewhere please do the responsible thing and clean it up. Spread cat litter on it, then wiping up the spill with rags or paper towels and throw them away in a sealed bag -- out of potential reach of animals and children.
• If your standard practice is to take your car to a mechanic for its seasonal preparations, be sure to ask specifically for propylene-glycol-based antifreeze. (But be prepared to pay a little more.)
• Don't let your pet (good luck with kitty) roam and be sure, when walking your dog, that you don't allow him to drink from or walk through puddles. Once you're back home from your walk, wash your pet's paws. (again, good luck with washing anything on your cat)
• Another source of antifreeze is decorative "snow globes". The liquid in these displays contain 2% antifreeze. This was very disheartening to me because I am the Goddess of Snow Globes. I have a more than I now care to admit.
• Please consider less toxic antifreeze products.

 There are several nationally available propylene- glycol antifreezes on the market, including:

 Sierra (Safe Brands Corp., 1-800-289-7234) http://www.sierraantifreeze.com/index.htmlSta-Clean (Sta-Clean Products, 1-800-825-3464)

Prestone LowTox® Antifreeze/Coolant-available at most automotive stores and departments

For more assistance if you have a pet in distress and your vet is unavailable....

Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435.

*A $60 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

The National Poison Control Center 1-800-548-2423

*A charge of $30 per call.