Antifreeze is poisonous and can be fatal. It is extremely dangerous to dogs.
It does not take much antifreeze to make your dog sick. The toxin ethylene glycol is what makes antifreeze lethal. It has a sweet taste.
Antifreeze is used in all vehicles as a cooling agent. It is also used in some snowmobiles and motorbikes. People tend to use antifreeze for winterizing their summer homes/cottages and campers.
It’s a common chemical found around most households especially in garages. Places that don’t have a garage you might find people storing it under the sink or in the basement sitting in a corner on the floor.
Ways your dog can come into contact with antifreeze is :
- licking the liquid that has dripped from the radiator of a vehicle
- was accidently spilt
- walking through a small puddle that might be on the road or in a drive way and then licking their paws later.
- liquid that might have leaked out under a cottage or trailer in spring as people are opening up their places.
Symptoms
Some common signs of antifreeze poisoning in dogs
- Drunken behavior
- Euphoria/Delirium
- Wobbly, uncoordinated movement
- Nausea//Vomiting
- Excessive urination
- Diarrhea
- Rapid heart beat
- Depression
- Weakness
- Seizures/Convulsions/Shaking tremors
- Fainting
- Coma
Treatment
If you suspect that your dog has ingested antifreeze contact a Vet right away. The vet may have you induce vomiting. You would do this by giving your dog a simple hydrogen peroxide solution — one teaspoon per five pounds of body weight, with no more than three teaspoons given at once.
Prevention
- Keep antifreeze containers tightly closed and stored out of the reach of pets.
- Take care not to spill antifreeze, and if it is spilled, ensure that it is immediately and thoroughly cleaned up.
- Dispose of used antifreeze containers properly.
- Check the radiator of your car regularly, and repair leaks immediately.
- Do not allow your dog to wander unattended where there is access to antifreeze (e.g., roads, gutters, garages, and driveways).
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