Pet owners urged to stop using antifreeze as it can kill animals in just days

17 January 2024 , 10:44

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Remain mindful when using antifreeze this winter (stock photo) (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Dog owners are being urged to keep their pets away from antifreeze dangers as temperatures plummet across the country. Even a small amount can be toxic to animals, damaging their kidneys and potentially causing death.

After drinking antifreeze, pets may appear wobbly or drunk, dribble, or vomit before seeming to recover after about 12 hours. However, two to three days later, their kidneys may fail, leading them to lose their appetite, have fits, or fall into a coma.

Justine Shotton, British Veterinary Association (BVA) senior vice president, advised: " Wiping your pets; paws can prevent them from ingesting toxins that they may have walked through whilst outside." She added: "Antifreeze in particular is highly toxic for cats, even in small amounts."

She also warned that some cases could be linked to pets ingesting diluted antifreeze used in ornamental water features to protect the pumps. Her advice was to "Store and use antifreeze products carefully and clean any spillages thoroughly."

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) has advised: "There are many different antifreeze products available, just make sure you always look for one that doesn't contain ethylene glycol as it's much less likely to be toxic to pets."

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PDSA also passed on advice: "If you can't avoid products that contain ethylene glycol, you'll need to be very careful when using them." Further instructions included: "You can do this by cleaning up any spills immediately, making sure the bottles are kept safely away from pets and children, and by only buying products with added 'bittering agents' to discourage pets from drinking them."

PDSA continued: "It's important to bear in mind that bittering agents aren't always effective, so ideally, just avoid ethylene glycol completely!" In July, a dog sadly died after drinking an unknown substance while on a walk.

The local vet wrote online: "We have very sadly just put a dog to sleep with ethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisoning." They added: "Please be incredibly careful walking your dogs in this area at this time; don't let them off the lead or drink from any unknown sources." If you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze, get in touch with your vet immediately. Don't wait for signs of illness as late treatment might not work as well.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.

Paige Freshwater