WINTER CAR CARE CAN BE THREAT TO PETS

WINTER CAR CARE CAN BE THREAT TO PETS

Colder outdoor temperatures mean many people are winterizing their cars, trucks, and tractors which can bring additional health hazards to households and especially to pets. Antifreeze, a liquid combined with water to lower a car's freezing point, and is one of the most serious wintertime threats to pets.

Dogs and cats are attracted to antifreeze because it tastes sweet.  Unfortunately, so are young children. This product can be toxic even in small doses. Animals come into contact with antifreeze because of spills or by finding and opening the antifreeze container. Cats are more susceptible because they will lick it off of their paws, and they are much smaller so smaller doses can be fatal.

"Antifreeze is the one of the most common poisonings we see in pets, and any contact with the substance can be fatal," said Dr. Tim Hackett, chief of Critical Care at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University. "That is why it is so important for pet owners to understand what they can do to prevent antifreeze poisoning in their own homes."

Antifreeze is most commonly a fluorescent green-colored mixture. But now we have different formulations for different makes and it can be orange or other colors as well.  It

usually contains ethylene glycol, which causes lethal kidney failure.  While not lethal when ingested, ethylene glycol becomes toxic as it is broken down by enzymes in the liver.

Common signs that a pet may have ingested antifreeze include having the

fluorescent green, orange or other color on their tongue, snout or paws. Once ingested, the effects are similar to alcohol intoxication and the animal walks in a

wobbly, drunken manner. The ethylene glycol in the antifreeze is quickly

metabolized by the liver into toxic calcium oxalates that cause circulation problems and irreversible kidney damage.

If a pet may have ingested antifreeze, do not hesitate to take it to an

emergency clinic for a blood test. If the test is positive, it typically

takes a couple of days of drug and fluid treatment to get the pet's health

back on track. Treatment aims to prevent the metabolic conversion into the

toxic compound, and if successful, most of the ethylene glycol is excreted

unchanged.

Another suggestion is to switch to non-toxic antifreeze which does not

contain ethylene glycol.  There are products that contain a close chemical call propylene glycol and works almost as well.  This is the anti-freeze used in RV storage for the winter.  Hackett said that the best ways to keep pet’s safe are to cleanup all spills and regularly check for leaks under cars. Also, if changing antifreeze at home, keep it out of reach, discard old antifreeze properly and do not dump it along gutters or in places where a wandering animal might find it. The City of Carlsbad and the Eddy County are having a toxic waste day on October 27 at the beach.  You dispose of used anti-freeze there as well of other household chemical and up to 10 used tires.  If possible, bring chemical in their original containers so after draining your anti-freeze and putting new into your cooling system put the old back into the containers and write with permeant maker used on it.  Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/  Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator.  All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.