Winter Weather, part 3 of 5 - Dogs Like Antifreeze

Yes, they do.  It taste really sweet to them and they don’t know its harmful to them.  They’ll lick the stuff right up thinking they’re having a treat.

Be careful and clean up any spills.  Don’t let your dog drink from puddles on the side of public roadways where cars may have dripped antifreeze.  You can also use an antifreeze made using propylene glycol which is less toxic (still toxic) than those formulas using ethylene glycol.  If you’re really lucky maybe your area sells one of the non-toxic formulas.

½ of a teaspoon of regular antifreeze per pound can cause harm.  This means that for an 80 lb. dog 40 teaspoons of regular antifreeze will cause poisoning.  This “poison” will attack the nervous system and kidneys of your dog.

Some signs to keep an eye out for are lack of coordination, increased thirst, lethargy, seizures, vomiting and diarrhea.  If you know or even suspect that your dog has gotten into some antifreeze, get him/her to your vet right away!  Your vet can successfully treat your dog if caught in time and avoid kidney damage.

Watch for part 4 or 5 - Winter Grooming