How can antifreeze kill

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Antifreeze is a liquid used to cool engines. It is also called engine coolant. This article discusses poisoning caused by swallowing antifreeze. This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number such as or the National Poison Control Center at Seek medical help right away.

DO NOT make a person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. Use standard first aid and CPR for signs of shock or no heartbeat cardiac arrest.

Call your local poison control center or for more help. Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline from anywhere in the United States. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

The person may receive:. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as little as two ounces of antifreeze can kill a dog, one teaspoon can kill a cat and two tablespoons of antifreeze can be hazardous to a child.

Within 24 to 72 hours, a person who has ingested a significant amount of antifreeze can die as a result. Most commonly, death is preceded by kidney failure, the factsheet said. It can also cause heart issues and brain damage. Do Not Show Again Close. Antifreeze Dangers For a medium sized dog, ingestion of about 2 ounces tablespoons is toxic.

The main ingredient in antifreeze is ethylene glycol, an extremely toxic poison that causes kidney failure which is often fatal in just a few days. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that dogs and cats like and if they find antifreeze they will drink it.

Even a small amount of antifreeze can be fatal. If a cat walks through a puddle of antifreeze and then licks its paws, it can ingest enough antifreeze to cause death.

About tablespoons can kill a medium sized dog. If you see or suspect your dog has ingested antifreeze contact a veterinarian immediately, or rush your pet to an emergency vet clinic. In order to prevent the ethylene glycol from being absorbed into the liver your veterinarian will administer an IV of ethanol which counters the affect of the deadly ethylene glycol.

The earlier treatment is started the greater the chance of survival. Once kidney failure develops, most pets will die. Prompt treatment is vital. For many household pets, winter weather brings a deadly threat that comes in a plastic bottle. It is ethylene glycol, a chemical commonly used in antifreeze. Antifreeze is said to be swee t and animals like to eat or drink it. But ingestion of antifreeze can often be fatal if it's not immediately treated. Even a relatively small amount can prove lethal: one teaspoon 1.

It also acts very fast - in many cases, your pet can die within 24 hours and if you are not treating it within a few hours of ingestion, there is a serious chance of permanent kidney damage, usually fatal. Cats Protection reported 1, cases of anti-freeze poisoning between November and December , an average of 50 deaths per month. Ethylene glycol is metabolized by the liver and travels in the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it forms insoluble calcium oxalate crystals inside the renal tubules.