ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

ANTIFREEZE DEADLY TO PETS

AUBURN, JAN. 7, 2000---Winter brings with it a deadly risk to pets as drivers add or change their car's engine coolant.

Standard antifreeze is deadly to humans and animals. A substance in the antifreeze causes kidney failure when the body converts it to a crystal.

As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can kill a dog or cat says Dr. Jim Floyd, Extension veterinarian with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Many pets die or have to be euthanized because owners don't recognize signs of poisoning until it's too late. Symptoms sometimes don’t show up for several days after animals have consumed antifreeze.

Floyd says animals have six to eight hours after they consume antifreeze for effective treatment; otherwise a slow, painful death is likely. The ideal treatment window is within the first four hours.

There are two antidotes for antifreeze poisoning. One is to give the animal ethanol or grain alcohol by an intravenous drip for two to three days. This treatment ties up the enzyme that converts the antifreeze to a toxin. This treatment requires hospitalization, but if treated early with the antidote and supportive care, most animals recover with the main side effect being a hangover from being drunk for three days.

The second treatment is a drug called Antizol-VET. It is more costly than using the first treatment but has fewer side effects. The drug is administered by intravenous injection by a licensed veterinarian, and must be followed by three additional treatments over the next two days. The initial treatment should be given as soon as possible after first exposure to the antifreeze.

If you see an animal ingest antifreeze, don't wait to see if it gets sick, says Floyd. If an animal has ingested antifreeze, the first thing to do is induce vomiting. Give the animal 1 teaspoon of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide per 5 pounds of body weight. Vomiting should start within 10 minutes. Then get the animal to the vet immediately.

There are safe antifreeze solutions. Major antifreeze brands make nontoxic varieties that use propylene glycol rather then ethylene glycol. To be safe, request the nontoxic variety of antifreeze the next time you have your car serviced.

SOURCE: DR. JIM FLOYD, Extension Veterinarian, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-1501