Animals

A Vet’s Voice: Cats Love Antifreeze...

by Leanne Garrett RVN ISFMDipFN Small Animal Team at Damory Vets, Blandford

As we are entering the winter months and the frosts start to set in, it is important to remember that screen wash and other antifreeze solutions contain the very toxic chemical Ethylene glycol.

Ethylene glycol is used to prevent freezing, most commonly used in cars but can also be found in paints and even in ornamental snow globes!

This chemical is extremely toxic to all animals (including humans!) but cats are more susceptible due to their metabolic differences. This metabolic difference in cats means that even when a very small amount is ingested it causes very rapid and fatal injury to the kidneys which can result in death.

Cats are most commonly exposed when it has leaked into a puddle, been spilled when topping up car fluid levels or drained into a container in a garage. Cats can also be poisoned by drinking rain water that collects in a vessel that previously contained antifreeze.

Unfortunately, ethylene glycol is very palatable to cats which is why it is so important to be vigilant and take extra care when using the chemical.

It should only ever be used in closed systems (such as car engine coolant systems). Any coolant drained from cars needs to be disposed of carefully in tightly closed containers. Any spillages should be cleaned and mopped up thoroughly. Bottles containing ethylene glycol should be stored carefully and tightly closed.

If you are worried that your cat may have ingested ethylene glycol you should take your cat to the vet immediately!

The sooner medical treatment

(No, this cat is NOT actually drinking antifreeze, I promise - Ed) Leanne & a magnificent Sherman

Signs of antifreeze poisoning:

• Increased urination • Increased drinking • Vomiting • Depression • Lethargy (being abnormally sleepy) • Appearing drunk and uncoordinated • Seizures (fitting) • Abnormally fast heartbeat • Very fast, shallow breathing

How to avoid accidental poisonings:

• Never add antifreeze to garden water features or ponds. • Always keep antifreeze in clearly labelled, robust, sealed containers, away from pets and their environment. • Clean up any spills immediately, no matter how small, and make sure pets cannot access the area until it is clean and safe. • Always dispose of antifreeze safely and responsibly. Contact your local authority for advice.

Our rehoming centres aren’t open for public browsing but we’re still rehoming and taking in dogs, with new processes in place to keep staff, visitors and adopters safe.

For dogs we know will thrive straight away in their new home, we’re matching them with their new homes virtually and delivering them contact-free. Current restrictions mean we can only facilitate adoptions local to our centres and not across Countries or anywhere there are travel restrictions. We’re not able to make appointments for dogs to meet their family before going home, but we can register interest to arrange appointments when restrictions ease.

We’re currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of interest, with some dogs getting several hundred applications. Please bear with us, we’re doing everything we can to find our dogs their forever homes.