HELP PREVENT ANTIFREEZE POISONING IN PETS

Because it only takes a few tablespoons of highly toxic antifreeze to seriously jeopardize an animal's life, pet guardians need to know how to help keep the dangerous toxin in antifreeze away from animals, as well as detect the early symptoms of anitfreeze poisoning.

A large number of animals that ingest antifreeze do not recover. By some estimates, 10,000 companion animals die each year from antifreeze poisoning, making the toxin ethylene glycol a serious concern for pet guardians.

Poison Prevention

Ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in almost all major antifreeze brands, has an inviting aroma, a sweet flavor-and a deadly aftertaste. Its appealing smell and taste often tempt animals and children to drink the highly poisonous substance.

Luckily, an alternative exists. To lower the risk to animals, consumers can switch to a brand of antifreeze containing propylene glycol, a chemical ingredient that is less toxic than ethylene glycol. In addition to being safer, propylene glycol has a bitter taste that makes it less attractive to curious animals.

Although it's safer than ethylene glycol antifreeze, propylene glycol antifreeze is still toxic. To reduce the risk of poisoning, all brands of antifreeze should be handled carefully and treated as a highly poisonous substance.

You should always take care to ensure that antifreeze is stored well away from animals and childre, antifreeze spills are completely cleaned up, and leaks are immediately repaired.

Pet guardians can help save their own animal from an encounter with antifreeze by watching their pet closely in areas where antifreeze may be accessible, such as roads, driveways, or garages.

Animals who are unlucky enough to stumble upon a leak, spill, or open container of antifreeze face an uphill battle to recovery. Whether it's a beloved pet, the neighbor's cat, or a wild animal, antifreeze can be deadly.

Race against Time

For pets exposed to anitfreeze, the first few hours are critical. Animals who receive immediate veterinary care can recover successfully-but the longer they remain untreated, the less likely they are to survive.

If antifreeze poisoning is suspected, pet guardians should immediately take their pet to their regualr vet or to an emergency vet.

Recognizing antifreeze poisoning symptoms is important, because many pet guardians may not immediately realize that their pet has been exposed to the toxin until it's too late.

Antifreeze poisoning occurs in two phases. In the first phase, the animal typically appears lethargic, disorientated, uncoordinated, and groggy. Symptoms usually appear thirty minutes to one hour after ingestion and can last for several hours.

The second phase, which can last up to three days, is characterized by symptoms such as vomiting, oral and gastric ulcers, kidney failure, coma and death.

Thousands of pets have suffered this preventable fate, prompting several states, and the federal government, to consider legislation that could drastically lower the incidence of antifreeze poisonings in both humans and animals.

Smart Solutions

Over the last fifteen years, three states California, Oregon, and New Mexica, have successfully passed legislation requiring that a bittering agent be added to ethylene glycol antifreeze to make it unpalatable for animals and children. While other states have considered similar laws, potential costs to the industry and other legislatvie priorities may have both played a role in pushing the issue to the back burner and preventing passage of the legislaton.