Antifreeze Poisoning Articles / Current Pet News Posted by Dr. Peay on Oct 01, 2002 - 06:12 PM Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol) Poisoning most often occures in the fall when people are changing the antifreeze in there cars. As a result veterinarians usually see an increased occurance of ethylene poisonings during October, November and December. Antifreeze has a pleasent, sweet taste that most small animals like so it is readily ingested. It is highly toxic and ingestion of a fairly small amount can be fatal. The minimum lethal dose is less than a tablespoon for a 10 pound cat and about 1/2 cup for a 25 pound dog. Ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed and metabolized once consumed by the animal. Signs of toxicity may appear as early as 30 minutes to 6 hours. Early signs are nausea and vomiting, depression, muscle twitching, lack of coordination, increased thirst and increased urination. The toxin first attacks the liver and then moves quickly to the kidneys and central nervous system and, if not treated early, eventually leads to death. To be effective, treatment must be initiated within a few hours of ingestion. Don't risk the life and health of your pet. Don't leave pans of antifreeze in the garage or let it flow into the street where pets can get to it. Check your radiator, hoses, and clamps periodically for leaks. Also consider using antifreeze that contains the less toxic propylene glycol instead of Ethylene glycol. If you see your pet ingesting any antifreeze don't wait to see if he/she gets sick, take them to your veterinarian immediately. This article is from Peay Animal Hospital Inc.   http://www.drpeay.com/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.drpeay.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=22