Pet Patter Antifreeze Poisoning By Liz Thurston, DVM Ethylene glycol makes w approximately 95% of all common- ly used antifreeze. It is very sweet tasting for both dogs and cats, and is mainly a prob- lem in fall, winter and early spring. And the worst par is, ethylene gly- col is highly toxic and rapidly fatal. One teaspoon per cat and two table- spoons per dog can kill. _ Once licked up, antifreeze is rapidly absorbed and distributed to all body tissues where the damage is done. There_are 3 stages of signs seen with antffreeze poisoning: Stage 1 - Nervous System Disorders: This occurs 30 minutes to 12 hours after ingestion of antifreeze. Your pet will exhibit nausea (quiet, drooling, licking lips, swallowing a lot) and vomitin; Often drinking a lot and urinating frequently are seen | hour after ingestion. As signs progress, he/she will become depressed, apprehensive, have trouble breath- ing, stagger and, if enough has been consumed, become Laat ea seizure and go into a coma. is rapid. Stage 2 - Heart and Lungs Affected Usually within 12 to 24 hours after ingestion, if your pet has sur- vived this far, the heart rate becomes very rapid and short, and difficult breathing occurs. Sometimes this stage is confused with apparent recovery but actually damaging crystals are beginning to form in the kidneys as the chemical is being filtered from the body. Stage 3 - Kidney Failure If your pet has lived to this point, (12 to 72 hours after ingestion in dogs and 12 to 24 hours in cats) you may see severe depression, vomiting and diarrhea, severely watery urine or lack of urination, abdominal pain, and mouth sores. High blood levels of urea and nitro- gen toxins are found, caused by lack of normal kidney filtration. This indicates kidney failure. If you see or know your pet has consumed this poison and treatment is begun very quickly, the progno- sis can be quite good. However, pets which have ingested large amounts or are con- tinuously vomiting, severely depressed or in a come, or are in kidney failure have a very grave prognosis. Treatment involves intravenous fluid therapy, controlling any seizures and ethanol.. Therapy with the drug ethanol is usually 100% successful if begun within 1 hour of ingestion, however if more than 4 hours have elapsed, it is much less effective. The drug acts by com- petitively stopping the breakdown of the antifreeze so it’s damaging yeas cannot be formed. As you can see, this is a devastat- ing condition.. The important key here is prevention. Keep a antifreeze, coolants, industrial sol- | vents and rust removers containing ethylene glycol properly contained with strong lids and out of reach of children and pets. Clean up any spills thoroughly, and keep animals and children away when using these products. Educate yourself on the signs of toxicity and if there is even a remote possibility of ingestion, call us immediately. Liz Thurston is a local veteri- narian. Halton Hills This Week, Saturday, November 7, 1992 — Page 7 1991 (Georgetown Homes) 150 140 MARILYN WORRALL be Sales Rep.* 120 247 Guelph Street 110 Georgetown, Ont. L7G 4A8 400 Bus. (416) 877-5165 90 Tor. (416) 874-3040 = Bein ot Brg ite ne ae Se ae SE eS Se ee ee eee s you can see, the number of active listings has declined drastically. However, this current "low inventory" tends to create fast turnover on homes which are "priced right". Why not make your moving plans now to coincide with this attractive market place. Give me a call for your i y property . (24 Hr. Pager). Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale. «SAMSUNG The sensible alternative Technology that works for life. 6 33" Colour Monitor With Built-in MTS Stereo * Full On Scre0n Display + Picture (colour 8S, ata Hesie Con * Square Comer Picture Tube + AN Input & Output Jacks *A&V Output * Comb Filter CT6830 | 29" Colour Monitor :' * Built In MTS Stereo * 2 S-VHS Jacks + Full On Screen Display ‘* Full Function Remote Control * Audio Video Input & Output Jack * Variable Audio Out = ‘+ Comb Filter 1 T5050 20" Colour Monitor * Infra Red Remote : eu on ora Display * Sle + Ausio vise Input Jack ‘W-290C Radio Double ee Becoreey . f Digkal Tuning With 15 Pre: raphic Equalizer 3.Band ects agus ‘One Touch ae tinuou: ty x8 CD) ‘Coirvalbie RCD-995C Radio Cassette liecahe +3" x 5" CD Compatible . ee Out Jack tteo Display Radio Double Cassette Recorder D: Portable Compact Disc Player * Fast sige Forward/Reverse VT1570C HQ 4 Head Ee SESE Recorder * Front + On-Screen boing + ull Logic Double Deck Cassette With Auto Reverse + BLL Syrhesicad Tuning Wii 24 Presas * 8 Band Graphic Spectrum Eq) ound VT-1267C HQ.2 Heed Video Cassette Recorder With 1 Programming YEARS GEORGETOWN VC-E805C 8MM |Camcorder _ 265 Guelph St., Georgetown 877-9541 WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL HOURS Mon.-Wed. 10-7 p.m. Thurs.-Fri. 10-9 p.m. Saturday 9-6 p.m. Sunday 12-5 p.m