Ethylene Glycol Antifreeze and Pet Poisoning (Sweet Taste Attractant, Kidney Failure, 1 Tablespoon Lethal to Cat, Bittering Agent Laws) — pet safety profile
High riskEthylene glycol (EG), the primary ingredient in most automotive antifreeze products, is one of the most common causes of fatal poisoning in dogs and cats.
What is this product?
Ethylene glycol (EG), the primary ingredient in most automotive antifreeze products, is one of the most common causes of fatal poisoning in dogs and cats. Its sweet taste actively attracts animals, and the lethal dose is extremely small: approximately 1.4 mL/kg for cats (one tablespoon for an average cat) and 4.4 mL/kg for dogs. EG itself is not directly toxic — liver alcohol dehydrogenase metabolizes it to glycoaldehyde, glycolic acid, and finally oxalic acid, which combines with calcium to form calcium oxalate crystals that deposit in renal tubules, causing irreversible acute kidney failure within 24-72 hours. Treatment is effective only if initiated within 8-12 hours (cats) or 12-24 hours (dogs) using fomepizole (4-methylpyrazole) or ethanol to competitively inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase. After crystal deposition begins, the prognosis is grave. Several US states mandate the addition of denatonium benzoate (Bitrex) bittering agent to antifreeze to deter ingestion, though compliance varies.
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