Fatal Poisoning Pets By Sweet Antifreeze

Fatal Poisoning Pets By Sweet Antifreeze.
It's a deadly attraction: puddles of sweet-tasting antifreeze on driveways and garage floors are unalterable for thirsty pets to resist. Just one teaspoon of ethylene glycol - the toxic makings found in antifreeze - is implacable to a 10-pound cat, and about five tablespoons will kill a Labrador retriever if the antidote isn't given in time, claim veterinary toxicologists click this link. "The most important thing to know about antifreeze is you have a really stingy window for treatment," said veterinarian Dr Justine Lee, associate director of Pet Poison Helpline, a wake up center staffed by animal health care professionals who cater treatment advice to owners nationwide.

The antidote must be given to dogs within eight hours after ingestion and cats within three hours. Otherwise, the pet's chances of survival are slim. The most unexceptional root of ethylene glycol is automotive engine antifreeze or coolant pictures. The toxic substance is also found in some music conditioners, imported snow globes, paints, solvents, and color film processing solutions.

Cabin owners in colder regions of the boonies frequently put antifreeze in toilets to prevent the pipes from c frore while the vacation home is unoccupied. "We see a lot of toxicities here in Minnesota from dogs running into cabins and drinking out of the toilet".

Initially, animals appear inspirited after imbibing antifreeze. Warning signs include staggering, lethargy, increased thirst, vomiting and feasible seizures, explained Dr Camille DeClementi, a veterinarian and board-certified veterinary toxicologist who serves as a older director for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center.

However, that drunken form is short-lived and it may appear as though the paddy is recovering when he or she is actually in grave danger: Internal damage is worsening as abnormal crystals built in the kidney, ultimately causing the organ to shut down. "Once an animal has already gone into kidney failure, there is almost nothing you can do".

If caught in schedule the prognosis for recovery is excellent. A blood test confirms if an carnal has antifreeze poisoning and whether treatment is needed. Owners should expect a 72-hour hospital keep for poisoned pets, along with a high veterinary bill. Treatment for a medium-sized dog, for example, runs between $2000 and $2500.

A better alternate is to protect your pet from accidental exposure in the first place by unhesitatingly washing antifreeze spills off driveways and keeping automotive products high on shelves out of reach. More than a dozen states - including Arizona, California and New Jersey - now instruct manufacturers to tote a bittering agent to antifreeze to deter children and pets from drinking it.

However, the ASPCA says there's no published figures demonstrating that adding a bittering vehicle to antifreeze effectively works in repelling dogs, and such products may give pet owners a false nous of security growth. A safer alternative is antifreeze containing propylene glycol, which veterinary toxicologists approximately is still poisonous to pets if large enough quantities are ingested, but it is less likely to kill them.