Anti-Freeze: The Dangers of Winter

During the Winter months, anti-freeze is essential to have in your car to make sure it continues running as it should. There is usually a cooling reservoir in all engines but in some older cars, you may have to add it to the radiator directly. It’s made up of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol which when added to water significantly changes the boiling point and freezing point of water. Your car needs water to run properly otherwise it might overheat after long periods with the engine running, the water in the engine would freeze in cold weather. Anti-freeze prevents this when added and it’s probably more than you think. The liquid in your radiator is usually about half water and half anti-freeze.

If you’re running low on anti-freeze, it’s normally something you can quickly solve yourself by popping under the bonnet and adding it yourself so many drivers will have a bottle at home. This is why it can be dangerous for pets and they may come into contact with it more often as the weather starts to change because everyone is getting their cars ready to commute in cold weather.

Anti-freeze is highly toxic to most pets, however, it often smells very sweet and tempting for them. Our pets tend to explore the world with their mouths from an early age and if they wonder what something is, they will often lick it or pick it up. A puddle of spilled anti-freeze can interest them easily and when it tastes as good as it smells, they’re more likely to consume it and unknowingly poison themselves.

One of the first signs of anti-freeze poisoning is usually a stomach upset as it’s the body’s initial defense against any toxins. Signs will usually start to show very quickly and within 30 minutes of drinking anti-freeze, you will usually notice some vomiting. In a situation where you notice your pooch or kitten has an upset stomach seemingly out of nowhere and you were recently doing your Winter check on the car, it’s best to go and check the area where the car was and where you store the anti-freeze. If you notice any spillages then it’s best to be safe than sorry and contact your vet immediately.

The faster anti-freeze poisoning is treated, the more likely your beloved pet is to make a full recovery. Keep in mind that consuming anti-freeze isn’t just something that will usually settle in time and work its way out of their system. If left untreated, anti-freeze poisoning will get worse and it can easily become fatal. While it might start out looking like a little stomach upset, it can be much more dangerous than it first appears.

A very clear sign that your pet has consumed anti-freeze is when they appear drunk. Ethylene glycol has a very similar effect to ethanol which is alcohol. It impacts their central nervous system so if symptoms progress you will start to notice them being a bit wobbly and stumbling as they try to get about. They can become very lethargic quite quickly and their response rate to stimuli like changes in the environment and noises will slow down significantly. If they aren’t able to get up when trying to move and keep stumbling back down, this is also a clear sign of poisoning.

One of the most dangerous things about anti-freeze poisoning is that if you decide to just keep an eye on your pet they might appear to get better. Within 12 hours the body will metabolise the ethanol so those drunk like symptoms will vanish. They might even brighten up a little bit and appear to be recovering all on their own. While it might look like recovery, underneath the surface there is still damage occurring. Their heart rate will be increased, they’ll be increasingly dehydrated and their respiratory rate will also be high. They’re not getting better at this point, the poisoning has just entered the most dangerous stage where it starts to impact their organs and becomes life-threatening.

When left untreated, anti-freeze can do long-term damage and easily become life threatening. After a short respite and a reduction of symptoms, you may notice muscle twitching which leads to seizures. This will usually occur beyond the 24 hour mark and at this point, their prognosis becomes quite bleak. They can fall into a coma, and develop kidney failure which vets will often then recommend euthanasia to avoid them suffering any longer.

Anti-freeze poisoning is a very quickly progressing issue as it’s absorbed into the body very soon after ingesting. It’s different to when your pets eat chocolate, induced vomiting does not help. Instead, treatment involves an antidote that stops the toxin from being metabolised into more dangerous forms which is eventually what leads to kidney failure. If your pet can be treated within the first five hours before this occurs, their prognosis is much better; however, the longer it takes for them to be treated, the more high risk it becomes.

What makes anti-freeze poisoning such an important topic to understand is just how fast it takes effect and how little needs to be consumed to cause a serious issue. A cat may only ingest one teaspoon of spilled liquid but this is plenty to become fatal. By far, the best way to protect your beloved pets against anti-freeze poisoning is to just manage the anti-freeze very carefully and keep your pets safely away from it. When you’re performing checks on your car, make sure nothing leaks. If there are any spillages, clean it up right away so your pets don’t get curious if you forget for a little while.

Bottles of anti-freeze should be kept out of reach and secured away from your curious critters. Even if you leave it out on the side, your pooch or cat might want to try and figure out how to get into the bottle of sweet smelling liquid. You also need to dispose of it properly. Leaving it out in a bin bag when you have pets that might try going through them for scraps can lead to an accident. As long as spills are cleaned and it’s kept out of the way, your pets can stay safe while you also keep your car running smoothly. It’s much easier to protect your pets once you understand the dangers of anti-freeze.

If you need to perform your much needed car check, try giving your kitty a new toy or your pup some enrichment and keep them in a separate space to buy you some time to do it safely and in peace. Find everything you need to keep your pets healthy in store and online.