Antifreeze: Keep Pets Safe

Winter weather can bring snow, ice, and sleet to your town. This means we pull out chemicals to keep our cars from stalling and our sidewalks from becoming ice rinks. Keep in mind that we could accidentally be exposing our pets to poisons. Antifreeze is a sweet tasting chemical and cats and dogs may lick it because of its sweetness.

A small amount of antifreeze can lead to kidney failure, stomach problems, and vomiting. If left untreated it can be fatal. Pets are often exposed to it from a car that has a small leak and puddles left in the gutters. They can also be exposed to it in the garage where spills occur.

Antifreeze is toxic because of the ingredient, ethylene glycol. It causes damage to kidneys and can harm the central nervous system. If your pet walks through a puddle of it in the street, in the garage, and licks their paws that can be enough antifreeze to cause severe illness or death. Immediate veterinary care is necessary to prevent the toxin from being absorbed into your pet’s liver.

Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning are as follows:

1. your pet may appear confused
2. vomiting
3. depression
4. increased thirst and urination
5. sores appearing in the mouth
6. lethargy

Take preventative measures and keep all toxins out of reach of your pets and your children

• Wipe your pet’s feet when you come in from a walk to remove debris, chemicals, and dirt
• Keep the antifreeze in a sealed container
• Check your garage floor for spills
• Check your car for leaks
• Switch to a pet-safe antifreeze such as one that has propylene instead of ethylene

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