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Pets and Anti-freeze:
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Them

Now that summer has arrived and vehicle air conditioners are on full blast, it’s important to keep in mind how to store and dispose of the antifreeze our cars use during this season. You may not have thought about it but every year thousands of dogs and cats become victims of accidental poisoning. Antifreeze is one of those poisons.

While today’s antifreeze is safer than in years past, it is not completely safe and must be handled properly, especially when it comes to keeping it out of reach of our four-legged companions. The people at Prestone Products have come up with a few important pointers on how to protect the pets residing in some 136 million households across the country.

According to Richard Courtney, Director of Research & Development and Technical Services/Consumer Relations for Prestone Products, choosing the right antifreeze for your vehicle is as important as choosing the right one for your lifestyle. Antifreeze, like other household chemicals, says Courtney, can be hazardous to animals, as well as humans. "When antifreeze is not cleaned up," says Courtney, "it may become accessible to pets, " and a very small amount can be deadly.

Working with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruely to Animals (ASPCA), Prestone answered some common concerns and questions about antifreeze and animal safety, as well as listing ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Hotline number in their literature (888.426.4435). Here is what they offer:

Check your car’s antifreeze regularly and change it according to schedule. Maintain a 50/50 antifreeze/water mixture to protect the cooling systems against boilovers and freeze-ups.
Be sure to clean up spills immediately following any spills or leaks.
Because a car can leak coolant at any time, if you suspect a leak, use a sealant to stop it until you have time to take the car in for repair. If the leak has left a puddle of antifreeze in your driveway or on the road, flush the area with water. Spreading kitty litter also works well. Clean it up with rags, then rinse.
Carefully follow the instructions on the antifreeze label.
Check driveways and garage floors regularly for possible leaks.
Create awareness in your neighborhood, sharing this information with friends and neighbors who own a pet.
Use a low toxicity propylene glycol formula in your car (Prestone LowTox Antifreeze/Coolant).
Safely store all antifreeze products after use and place them out of reach of children and animals.

No antifreeze product is completely safe, however, a propylene glycol (PG) antifreeze/coolant product does provide a margin of safety in the event of accidental ingestion. It isn’t just the antifreeze that’s harmful to pets. The metals in your vehicle’s cooling system that corrode and dissolve into the antifreeze are also harmful.

If you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze, get him/her to your veterinarian immedately. This is not something that can be treated at home. Signs that your pet may have swallowed antifreeze include a drunken appearance such as staggering, lack of coordination, disorientation, drinking large amounts of water and vomiting. Your animal may appear listless and depressed. Because early signs of antifreeze poisoning mimic other illness, it’s crucial to notify your vet as soon as possible.

To obtain additional information on the responsible use of antifreeze and animal safety, contact the ASPCA (www.apcc.aspca.org, ANI-MED Program (610.254-7900), and most veterinarians.