Ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in almost all major antifreeze brands,
has an inviting aroma, a sweet flavor. Its appealing smell and taste often
tempt animals and children to drink the highly poisonous substance. It
only takes a few tablespoons of highly toxic antifreeze to seriously
 jeopardize an animal's life. Pet guardians need to know how to help
keep antifreeze away from animals, as well as detect the early symptoms
of antifreeze poisoning.

Poison prevention

To lower the risk of poisoning, consumers can switch to a brand of antifreeze
 containing propylene glycol, a chemical ingredient that is less toxic than
ethylene glycol. In addition to being safer, propylene glycol has a bitter taste
that makes it less attractive to curious animals. Although it's safer than
ethylene glycol antifreeze, propylene glycol antifreeze is still toxic. To reduce
the risk of poisoning, all brands of antifreeze should be handled carefully and
treated as a highly poisonous substance. Ensure that antifreeze is stored well
away from animals and children, antifreeze spills are completely cleaned up,
and leaks are immediately repaired.

Families can help save their own pet from an encounter with antifreeze by
closely watching the animal in areas where antifreeze may be accessible,
such as roads, driveways, or garages.

What to do

1. Switch to a brand of antifreeze that contains propylene glycol instead
of ethylene glycol.
2. Keep antifreeze sealed and away from animals; clean up spills completely,
and fix any leaks immediately.
3. Don't allow your pet to wander unattended near driveways, roads, garages,
or other places where she could come into contact with antifreeze.
4. Keep other products that contain ethylene glycol—like paint, cosmetics and
novelty snow globes—out of the reach of animals, as well as any product of which
you are not certain of the ingredients.
5. Monitor your pet for strange behavior. If you think she may have ingested
antifreeze, take her to a veterinarian immediately.

How to detect poisoning

For pets exposed to antifreeze, the first few hours are critical. Animals who
receive immediate veterinary care can recover successfully—but the longer they
remain untreated, the less likely they are to survive.

Recognizing antifreeze poisoning symptoms is important—many pet guardians
 may not immediately realize that their pet has been exposed to the toxin until
it's too late.

Antifreeze poisoning occurs in two phases. In the first phase, the animal typically
appears lethargic, disorientated, uncoordinated and groggy. Symptoms usually
appear 30 minutes to one hour after ingestion and can last for several hours.

The second phase, which can last up to three days, is characterized by symptoms
such as vomiting, oral and gastric ulcers, kidney failure, coma and death.

Thousands of pets have suffered this preventable fate, prompting several states,
and the federal government, to consider legislation that could drastically lower the
incidence of antifreeze poisonings in both humans and animals.

Smart solutions

Six states—Oregon, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Tennessee, and
Maine—have successfully passed legislation requiring that a bittering agent
be added to ethylene glycol antifreeze to make it unpalatable for animals and
children. While other states have considered similar laws, potential costs to
the industry and other legislative priorities may have both played a role in
pushing the issue to the back burner and preventing passage of the legislation.

Until a federal antifreeze bittering bill becomes law, it's up to concerned citizens
and animal lovers to keep even the most curious critters out from under antifreeze's
sweet—but deadly—spell.