If you call up your cat drank antifreeze , you ’ll want to behave tight .
Antifreeze poisoning in quat is a serious issue , and it can hap promiscuous than you consider .
You accidentally lock in Kitty in the garage , and she does n’t have access to her water bowlful . The spilled antifreeze from a poorly placed bottle or a crushed radiator is the only liquid around for the parched cat to drink . Or perhaps spilled antifreeze simply pay for the curiosity of a guy , who take a taste of the sweet - reek material . In this example , Ahna Brutlag , a veterinary surgeon who work with thePet Poison Helplineto do question about toxic substance , says that curiosity can quite literally kill the cat .
Photo: Tevarak / Getty
How Dangerous is Antifreeze to Pets?
Antifreeze , made up of ethene glycol , is unbelievably dangerous if your khat ( or dog , or kid ) ingest it . In fact , it only takes as niggling asone 8th of a teaspoonof antifreeze per British pound of body weight in a cat to lead in human death .
Brutlag says that while inquiries from vets and favored owners about antifreeze poisoning is not quite at the top of their list of questions , she does receive a fair number of them . " Certainly cat owners call right away if they see a spilled container of antifreeze around their bozo , " she says . " Other times they see the sign [ of ] antifreeze toxic condition and they ’re checking . "
But it ’s full to be safe than sorry , since antifreeze poisoning is a dire situation , since the basal ingredient will start harming your khat ’s kidneys in the first few hours after ingestion .
Why Do Cats Drink Antifreeze?
" It ’s kind of established soundness that it ’s appetizing to cats [ because it ’s fresh ] , " Brutlag says . " But cats do n’t have sweet taste receptors . "
Inone work , computed tomography seemed neither attracted to nor grossed out by sweetness . Cats who drink antifreeze may be curious , may be urgently thirsty , or may chance something they like about the color , smell , or taste of the heart and soul .
" Antifreeze is unsafe to human race and bounder , but CAT are more sensitive than many other species , " Brutlag says .
The way out in automotive antifreeze , whether it ’s in radiator coolant or deicing windscreen wiper fluid , is ethene ethylene glycol . Pet Poison Helpline receives more calls from guy proprietor about windscreen wiper fluid , which also contain a eminent concentration of ethylene ethylene glycol .
Ahna Brutlag, veterinarian, Pet Poison Helpline
Antifreeze is dangerous to human and dogs , but cats are more sensitive than many other mintage .
Signs to Watch For in Antifreeze Poisoning in Cats
qat go through three stages of antifreeze toxic condition , harmonize to Brutlag .
The first stage take place in the first 12 hours and can let in vomiting , drooling , seizures , extravagant thirst , or supererogatory urination . " The cat can look ' drunk , ' similar to what materialise to people drink alcohol , " Brutlag say .
The second stage occurs within 12 to 24 hours . While the other signs may melt , the antifreeze may be for good damaging your qat ' inner organs , especially the kidney .
In the third stage that happens during the first 24 hr after exposure , cat may start usher a lack of appetite , languor , drooling , vomiting , seizure , and comatoseness . Without discourse , death is likely .
For a safe prognosis and convalescence , Brutlag says veterinary surgeon " desire to get to these cat and get going handling within a few hours . " Prognosis is poor for cats who do n’t begin handling after the first three or four time of day after their exposure to the message .
If you believe your cat drank antifreeze , Brutlag pronounce you ’ll want to act fast . " If you see your cat take in antifreeze , run to the veterinary clinic , " she says . " Do n’t wait and see what ’s going to hap . "
Treatment for Antifreeze Poisoning in Cats
When veterinarians mistrust , or if pet owners can reassert , that a cat has consumed antifreeze , it ’s possible your veterinary clinic will induct puking . They then may administer medication through an IV subway system that freeze your cat ’s kidney from further metabolize the toxicant .
Because cats often receive a differentalcohol as part of their treatmentto assistance counter the ethylene glycol , they can become passing " drunk " and will need to be hospitalize for observation at the clinic during treatment .
However , Brutlag says the damage done by antifreeze is different from other form ofchronic kidney disease . " If it ’s too belated and the cat has already metabolise the antifreeze , we can sometimes get the kidneys healthy again , but there may be irreversible damage , " Brutlag say .
" Cats can live with kidney price , depending on how severe and the movement , " Brutlag says . " Antifreeze toxic condition is pretty dire , unlike with some chronic nephritic loser where cats can live for years . "
How to Prevent Antifreeze Poisoning on Cats
The advice is round-eyed : Keep antifreeze with ethylene diol out of reach of curious cats and in places where bottles ca n’t circumstantially tip over onto a antagonistic control surface or the floor . If you spill antifreeze , strip it up right away . If you dwell in a cold - atmospheric condition mood , remember twice about using products with ethylene diol in water garden or other outdoor spot approachable to your computed axial tomography .
If you want to steer clear of ethylene glycol , there are so - call " favourite - safe " antifreeze products . These use propylene ethylene glycol instead , which must be consumed in larger amounts to be toxic to cats . Propylene glycolabsorbs water and is " broadly speaking pick out as good " by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration . It shows up in food colors , flavor and drugs as well as mathematical product with antifreeze , but is not appropriate in khat foods .
Accidents happen . Pets feed , drink , and are exposed to toxic and unhealthy chemicals . Your computerized axial tomography ( and her wanted kidneys ! ) will appreciate your efforts to keep her rum sassing off from antifreeze . But if exposure to the chemical substance does occur , a head trip to a veterinary surgeon who can help should happen ASAP .
