
This phase of the toxicity does not always occur. Stage 2: 12-24 hours after exposure (false recovery) Pets may act like they are “drunk” at this stage of toxicity.

Clinical Symptoms: vomiting, lethargy, incoordination, increased urination, seizures, and coma.For the antidotes to be effective and prevent permanent damage, treatment must be initiated in the first 4 hours. This is the most important time to seek veterinary treatment. Stage 1: 30 minutes to 12 hours after exposure (acute signs of toxicity)

The guidelines below will give you an idea of what you could see at each stage, depending on how much time has passed since exposure to this lethal chemical. Here are the symptoms of antifreeze poisoning to watch for and what to do if you think your cat got into antifreeze. Less than ½ tablespoon of antifreeze can be lethal for your feline.

The wide variety of uses for ethylene glycol leads to exposure to cats in automobile work/storage areas and air conditioning units, where the chemicals may leak or spill out. It’s used in many products to help prevent liquids from freezing at cold temperatures or to aid in temperature regulation for air conditioning systems.īecause of ethylene glycol’s varied uses, it is found in many home and industrial items such as antifreeze, windshield washer fluids, de-icers, solvents, and condenser fluids. Ethylene glycol is an odorless, sweet-tasting, organic chemical that’s found in antifreeze, and it’s poisonous to cats.
