Ethylene glycol poisoning can set in rather quickly after the dog consumes it and will actually occur in stages. For both propylene glycol and ethylene glycol, signs of toxicity are seen within 1-6 hours. Ethylene glycol (EG) poisoning is common in dogs and cats 1 – 4 and often results in death if it is not diagnosed and treated promptly. It’s critical to begin treatment within the first four hours of ingestion in cats and within the first eight hours of ingestion in dogs. Common clinical signs were ataxia, depression, vomiting, and hypothermia. Ethylene glycol can also be found, in lower concentrations, in some windshield de-icing agents, hydraulic brake fluid, motor oils, solvents, paints, film processing solutions, wood stains, inks, printer cartridges, etc. Ethylene glycol poisoning is common because antifreeze is widely used, it has a sweet taste and small lethal dose (only 3 to 4 teaspoons in dogs, 1 to 2 teaspoons in cats), and it is often stored and disposed of improperly. Ethylene glycol toxicity in dogs, or antifreeze poisoning, happens when dogs consume the odorless, sweet-tasting ingredient ethylene glycol, commonly found antifreeze. Here is the rub: Polyethylene glycol should not be in anything that you feed your dog or put on their skin, especially damaged skin. Prompt, immediate treatment is necessary in order to save a dog or cat’s life from poisoning. Treatment for ethylene glycol poisoning includes the antidote fomepizole (also known as 4-MP) or ethanol. 5 The mortality rate in dogs is reported to range from 59% to 70% 1, 5 and is thought to be even higher in cats. “Renal damage is thought to be secondary to calcium oxalate deposition, and crystalluria is a consistent finding in ethylene glycol poisoning. EG intoxication is the second most common cause of fatal poisoning in animals according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Polyethylene glycol, otherwise known as PEG, is a mixture of bonded polymer plastic compounds that are combined with glycol to make a thick sticky liquid. These signs include vomiting, ataxia/drunken gait, disorientation, and increased thirst and urination. By then, it is too late. Scary. Best Answer. Untreated, antifreeze poisoning can be fatal to pets. Differential diagnoses include ethylene glycol toxicosis, ingestion of hypotensive agents, and infectious diseases (eg, viral enteritis). Ethylene glycol toxicity in a dog. Clinicopathologic findings were retrospectively evaluated in 26 cats and 24 dogs with ethylene glycol intoxication. This is typically a high concentration of ethylene glycol (EG), and come in 95-100% concentrations. It does not take a significant amount of ethylene glycol to cause fatal damage to the system; less than three ounces (or 88 ml) of antifreeze is sufficient to poison a medium-sized dog. Sources of antifreeze: The primary dangerous source of antifreeze is automotive radiator coolant. Ethylene glycol is also found in engine coolant and hydraulic brake fluids. Characteristic alterations in the hemogram and serum chemical profile included neutrophilia, lymphopenia, azot … Antifreeze poisoning affects the brain, liver, and kidneys. Ethylene Glycol Poisoning in Dogs. > “In both dogs and cats, toxic doses of ethylene glycol cause CNS depression followed by acute kidney injury and metabolic acidosis,” Brutlag says. • Dogs treated less than 5 hours following ingestion of ethylene glycol—prognosis is excellent with fomepizole treatment • Dogs treated up to 8 hours following ingestion of ethylene glycol—most recover • Dogs treated up to 36 hours following ingestion of ethylene glycol—may benefit from prevention of … Treatment: For asymptomatic dogs with recent ingestion of more than 1–2 g/kg, emesis should be induced; activated charcoal may be of benefit with large ingestions. 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