Three cats poisoned – Warning signs to look out for in your pets

On Tuesday 6th April, Cassie James will be talking to Derick Breingan on her Mighty Radio Mid-Morning Show about the loss of his daughters kittens.

All three cats are suspected to have died from Ethylene Glycol poisoning.

Derick’s daughter lives in Southport and is one of a number of pet owners who have recently reported losing pets to this sort of poisoning.

Derick’s recent petition to the government asking for Ethylene Glycol to be removed from sale due to its harmful effects to animals was turned down.

Derrick will be speaking to Cassie about his families ordeal and raising awareness about Ethylene Glycol and the warning signs in pets who may have ingested this substance.

Ethylene Glycol is a sweet-tasting, odourless liquid and is the active ingredient in most automotive antifreeze products. Ethylene Glycol can also be found, in lower, less harmful, concentrations, in some windshield de-icing agents, hydraulic brake fluid, motor oils, solvents, paints, film processing solutions, wood stains, inks, printer cartridges, etc.

How do cats get Ethylene Glycol poisoning?

Cats may be attracted to Ethylene Glycol by its sweet taste.

Many animals will voluntarily drink Ethylene Glycol if antifreeze is spilled or leaks onto garage floors or driveways.

Ethylene glycol has a very narrow margin of safety – which means only a tiny amount can result in severe poisoning.  As little as one eighth of a teaspoon per pound of body weight in a cat of undiluted antifreeze can result in fatality.

What are the signs of Ethylene Glycol poisoning?

Ethylene glycol poisoning is divided into three stages.

Stage 1 (within 30 minutes of ingestion): The signs include lethargy, vomiting, incoordination, excessive urination, excessive thirst, hypothermia (low body temperature), seizures, and coma.

Stage 2 (12 to 24 hours after ingestion): some of the signs seem to dramatically improve, luring pet owners into a false sense of security. However, during this stage, cats become dehydrated, and develop an elevated breathing and heart rate.

Stage 3 (12-24 hours after ingestion): At this stage, signs of severe kidney dysfunction, which is characterized by swollen, painful kidneys and the production of minimal to no urine, may occur. Progressive depression, lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, seizures, coma, and death may be seen.

It is critical that you take your cat to a veterinary clinic if you know or even suspect that he has consumed Ethylene Glycol, or if he is exhibiting any of the early symptoms. Do not wait, time is of the essence and immediate treatment is essential!

Cats must be treated within 3 hours of ingesting antifreeze, as the antidote only has a narrow time period to work. Left untreated, the animal may die.

You can listen to the interview live on Cassie’s Mid Morning Mighty Radio Show from 10am on 107.9FM, online, via the app, Alexa and other platforms.