Signs and symptoms similar to drunkenness.

Antifreeze intoxication is very serious. Immediate actions are necessary to save patients that have ingested even small amounts of ethylene glycol, the most common ingredient in most types of antifreeze. As little as one tablespoon of dilute ethylene glycol can kill an average size cat. The chemical has a specific toxicity for the kidneys; death from irreversible kidney failure is common. Contact your veterinarian immediately. If the cat is not yet showing some signs of illness, it is unlikely that the cat ingested any meaningful amount of antifreeze, but your veterinarian should assess this. The signs of acute or immediate exposure to ethylene glycol include signs that resemble drunkenness, including incoordination, depression, seizures, coma, or death. Vomiting, nausea, increased thirst and urination are also seen in the first 30 minutes to one hour. From 12 to 24 hours after consumption the animal may have rapid heart rate and rapid breathing. In the cat, signs progress rapidly: within 12 to 24 hours after ingestion, cats will have severe irreversible kidney failure, with limited or absent urine production. The cats will be severely depressed, with vomiting and diarrhea. The prognosis for patients that are seen after the onset of kidney failure is grave. Dialysis and kidney transplantation would offer the best hope for such patients. Your veterinarian should be able to detect whether the cat has kidney failure or other organ dysfunction with blood tests. The known antidotes are most helpful if administered to cats within the first three hours after ingestion. Unfortunately, pet owners rarely can act within this time frame.

08/01/00