by sunshines pen

Created on: June 28, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Antifreeze poisoning can happen to your pet as strange as it may seem. Leaking antifreeze kills thousands of pets yearly. It is sadly possible this could happen to your dog or cat. It is wise to keep a close eye on them when they are outside. We all know how much our pet's love the outdoors ,it's freedom to run and play. But they just don't realize that they could be in seriously grave danger. Some people don't even know about antifreeze poisoning and that it exists.

People working on car's such as shade tree mechanic's,a family member or a friend may spill some antifreeze on the driveway . They don't know that it should be cleaned up that it is Toxic. Or it leaks out of an old automobile that is sitting around onto the ground. The poor pet dog or cat licks it up because it has a sweet taste and nice smell. The pet assumes it is ok to drink it. It only takes a small amount to make the pet dreadfully ill. Two to three teaspoons can kill a pet. Most of the reported poisoning's are in the summer,fall and winter.

Antifreeze contains a poison called ethylene glycol. The pet will get very sick after drinking the antifreeze. It can be potentially deadly. The poison effects the thirst center of their brain and they get very thirsty. It makes them drink water and urinate excessively. They are wobbly and breath heavily. The kidney's swell up and they are hurting. They may get to the point they are so dehydrated that they can't even urinate.

You must get your pet to the vet as soon as possible the quicker the better. This is very important! If it has only been a couple of hours fluid's are given through the vein to help flush out the antifreeze from the pet's kidney's and keep it as hydrated as possible. A most effective drug can be given to dogs that sometimes helps if caught early but not to cats.

Alcohol is the only thing that works on a cat. The alcohol breaks up the crystals that are forming from the poison in the antifreeze. An ultraviolet light may be used to check the kidney's on a dog or cat,but this test doesn't always work. A blood test may also be taken. The main thing is to try to help the poor animal before any bad kidney damage is done.

Unfortunately 95% of most dogs and cats that get poisoned pass away. This is a regretful tragedy for an innocent pet. So try your best to be on guard and not to let this happen to your beautiful pet! To most people a pet is like a part of the family. I know my two cats are a part of mine.

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