Dog Safety: The Dangers of Antifreeze

Your canine companion has the potential to encounter many hazards during their adventures outside, especially in the colder months. Read our Winter Safety Tips.

Antifreeze should be a concern for every owner. Understanding the danger and the symptoms of poisoning will keep your dog safer.

What is Antifreeze?

During cold, icy weather, many people will use anti-freeze products in their cars and sometimes even in their water features. This engine coolant prevents the radiators in cars from freezing or overheating.

This product is water-based but also contains liquid alcohols, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and methanol.

Dogs can drink from contaminated puddles or walk through a spillage and lick their paws. Even in small doses, these ingredients are extremely hazardous to our dogs’ health.

Why Will Dogs Drink Antifreeze?

One of the chemicals present in antifreeze- ethylene glycol – has a naturally sweet taste, which can attract dogs to lick it. Some dogs can be obsessed with eating anything on walks, but you can try to keep their attention with irresistible high meat treats.

Perfecting your dogs recall will also help keep your furry friend away from danger. For some tips, watch our Guide to Recall Training. 

What are the symptoms of Antifreeze poisoning?

Symptoms can occur very quickly, and noticing these changes in your dog’s health and behaviour can alert you to seek veterinary help sooner.

These are some common symptoms:

• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Unsteady/ Wobbly
• Drinking and urinating more
• Fast breathing/difficulty breathing
• Seizures
• Collapsing

If you suspect your dog has ingested antifreeze, contact your vet ASAP.

Prompt veterinary attention is essential.

How is antifreeze poisoning treated?

After diagnosis, vets will treat quickly to reduce the chance of fatality. As the chemical ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed into the body, vets may need to induce vomiting to get rid of the toxin.

There are also specific medicines that can be given to stop the effects of the toxin. Vets will sometimes also need to wash the suspected toxin off your dog’s paws and fur.

A fluid drip will sometimes be used to help support your dog’s kidneys. Some dogs may survive the poisoning but be left with permanent kidney damage.

With any toxin, if you have the packaging of the product handy, bring it to the vet to speed up treatment and diagnosis.

Antifreeze poisoning is often fatal. Your dog has a higher chance of survival if treatment is given within the first 12 hours.

How to Protect Your Dog from Antifreeze?

Keeping a tight leash and a close eye on your dog while outside near cars will hugely reduce the risk of toxicity. However, there are some other ways to prevent your dog from getting antifreeze poisoning.

1. Be very careful not to spill anti-freeze when you are using it. If you do drop any, wipe it away carefully to avoid dogs walking through it.
2. Don’t leave antifreeze in an open container as animals may be attracted to it. Ensure your antifreeze is locked away somewhere secure.
3. Check your car regularly for leaks.
4. Switch to safer natural antifreeze.
5. Use other methods to defrost your windscreen, such as scrapers or covers.

For more safety advice, read our Guide to Poisonous Plants.

Let your neighbours and fellow pet owners know about the hidden dangers of antifreeze to make them more cautious about using it.

Together, we can keep our pets and wildlife safe.