ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601090001
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV15 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Claws & Paws
SOURCE: JILL BOWEN
Q: A recent tragedy leads me to write. My wife and I were both aware of the toxicity of antifreeze and the attraction of dogs to its sweet taste, but did not consider this to be a problem because of the isolation of our home and my aversion to auto mechanics.
Imagine our horror when Possum, our Chihuahua, died of antifreeze poisoning. The source was a very small leak from the water pump of a parked car. Barely enough to wet your finger, but enough to kill. I thought that maybe you could alert others, and that somehow some good could come from our misfortune.
A: Conventional coolants and most antifreeze solutions contain ethylene glycol, a powerful poison. Attracted by the sweet taste, animals drink antifreeze from puddles after it has leaked from car radiators or been dumped illegally in streets, gutters and parking lots. Many people do not realize that animals can be hurt by relatively small amounts of antifreeze. Ethylene glycol is a powerful toxic agent that affects the kidneys. In spite of intensive veterinary care, which can include dialysis and blood transfusions, it is nearly always fatal. In many instances, the owner of the dog is not aware that there is a problem until there is already irreversible damage to the kidneys.
I am afraid that Possum is one of the thousands of animals that die each year from drinking antifreeze. Dogs are not the only animals at risk; wild animals and birds are also susceptible. In 1992, a rare California condor died from antifreeze poisoning, as did a cougar last January. Cats are not attracted to sweet liquids; however, should they ingest it inadvertently, the effect would be just as fatal.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, about 700 children under the age of 6 are exposed to antifreeze poisoning each year.
There is a new brand of antifreeze, Sierra, developed by Safe Brands Corp. of Omaha, Neb., which protects with propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a much safer chemical, frequently used in cosmetics and some over-the-counter medicines. Sierra is available at auto parts stores and certain retail chains, but it is more expensive than the conventional formulations.
Changing to a safer formula is something which we should all consider and a small price to pay for the safety of pets and children.
If you have a question for Jill Bowen, please write to her in care of the New River Current, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or send e-mail to Currentbev.net.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB