Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Suspected antifreeze poisoning in 2 dogs in South Africa
By Keller, N & Goddard, AĀ·Published in Journal of the South African Veterinary AssociationĀ·2005Ā·Department of Companion Animal Clinical StudiesĀ·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: First report of suspected ethylene glycol poisoning in 2 dogs in South Africa.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two dogs in South Africa were suspected of drinking anti-freeze, which contains ethylene glycol, a substance that can be deadly even in small amounts. Symptoms of poisoning can progress through three stages, leading to serious kidney damage. Immediate treatment is crucial, as delayed care can be fatal. If you suspect your pet has ingested anti-freeze, it's important to get them to a veterinarian right away for appropriate care.
People also search for: dog anti-freeze poisoning symptoms Ā· what to do if my dog drank anti-freeze Ā· ethylene glycol treatment for dogs
Abstract
Ethylene glycol (anti-freeze) toxicity is a serious emergency in both veterinary and human medicine. Ethylene glycol (E/G) is the active anti-freeze principle in radiator water additives. It is odourless, colourless and has a sweet taste. As little as 5 ml or 20 ml is sufficient to kill a cat or a dog, respectively. Ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed and metabolised in the liver to oxalate, which is deposited as calcium oxalate in the kidneys causing irreversible damage. This report describes 2 dogs that were suspected to have ingested ethylene glycol. The report contains a description of the 3 stages of ethylene glycol toxicity as well as a short discussion of the treatment. Public awareness about the dangers of anti-freeze will help in limiting exposure of pets and humans to this potentially fatal toxin. Veterinarians need to be aware of anti-freeze toxicity as delayed recognition and treatment will lead to the death of the patient.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16108533/