Antifreeze poisoning in dogs


Pet sitters, dog walkers, and pet owners, need to be aware of what can happen and the symptoms of antifreeze poisoning. Especially in areas like Dallas, where snow and dogs are not so common and people splash antifreeze around their car while getting it into the necessary receptacles. It takes only a teaspoon to kill a small dog. When dog walking, please be aware of your surroundings and take immediate action if your dog begins drinking something in a driveway or roadway.


In 2007, my oldest daughter gave me her pit bull, Charlie, to watch when she joined the Navy. He was six months old and just a doll. Unfortunately for us, someone did not like him and poisoned him with antifreeze. It was two days before he showed symptoms.


Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning
– walking drunkenly – it is alcohol
– vomit and drinking excessively
– excessive urination
– diarrhea
– mouth ulcers
– hair loss
– rapid heart beat
– depression
– weakness
– seizures
– coma


The quicker you act, the safer your pet will be. Once the urine begins to crystallize, it may be too late. If you do see it, give a simple hydrogen peroxide mixture to induce vomiting. Contact your vet first as he may want to do it, but if you know it will take a while to get to the vets, call them for step-by-step instructions.


Once at the vets, if the dog has not already vomited, your vet will begin that. They will also administer an antidote to the poison at the office such as activated charcoal or 4-methylpyrazole, which is very effective if administered early. Most deaths from antifreeze poisoning come from renal (kidney) failure. After ingesting antifreeze, your pet may seem better and then suddenly gets worse because it has gone from ingestion into the kidneys and livers.


We were lucky. Even though Charlie had crystals in his urine, he was at an emergency clinic where they started him on fluids until we could get him to the vets the next day. We then began a week-long outpatient fluid treatment to flush it out of his system. Against all odds, he did it.


If you do use antifreeze, please consider going over to propylene glycol instead of ethylene. It is still poisonous but will not have the kidney effects. Clean up your driveway messes, keep the antifreeze locked up and in a tight container, and most of all, keep aware of your pets.


Libby Mitchell
Fetch Pet Care of NE Dallas
http://www.fetchpetcare.com
214-969-3639


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