Now that the cold weather is upon us in most parts of the U.S., car owners are getting out the antifreeze. And, as a dog owner, you need to be aware of the dangers of antifreeze which, because of its sweet taste, is irresistible yet poisonous to dogs.   

Most antifreeze products use one of three main chemicals:  ethylene glycol, methanol, or propylene glycol.

Ethylene Glycol-Based Antifreeze

Ethylene glycol-based antifreezes are the most toxic of the commonly used antifreezes. Ethylene glycol is also used in film processing solutions, rust removers, solvents, non-freezing window washer fluid, and the clear liquid contained in many snow globes so popular around the holidays.

When your dog ingests ethylene glycol, the ethylene glycol is broken down into several extremely toxic individual chemical components. The minimum lethal dose of ethylene glycol-based antifreezes is approximately 5ml/kg in dogs – roughly 1 tablespoon per 20lb dog. Thus, if you suspect your dog has ingested any product containing ethylene glycol, you must rush him to the vet immediately!