Dec
2012
A Bitter Change For Antifreeze
Every year thousands of animals die from ingesting antifreeze. The sweet taste of the product draws in unsuspecting animals and is often fatal for them.
One small teaspoon of antifreeze can kill an average sized cat. Ethylene glycol can cause nausea, vomiting, central nervous system failure, build up of fluids in the lungs, heart and kidney failure, coma and rapid death.
Over the years I have seen less cases of pets that have ingested antifreeze, hopefully because people are more aware that this product can be deadly and they take necessary precautions, but I have seen a handful of pets die from consuming a small amount over the past seven years and many wildlife animals are exposed to antifreeze when people dispose of the product in unsafe ways.
Hopefully the numbers of those incidents will continue to decline since last week the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) and the Humane Society Legislative Fund jointly announced that animal protection groups and manufacturers of antifreeze have come to a landmark agreement with seven major corporations agreeing to add a bitter flavoring agent to their products for the consumer market in all 50 states. The manufacturers are adding bitter-tasting denatonium benzoate to antifreeze and coolant sold directly to consumers across the country.
Seventeen states currently require the addition of the bittering agent to antifreeze and engine coolant: Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
While this a huge step forward it should be noted that antifreeze is still extremely toxic to pets, wildlife animals and children and proper storage and disposal of the product should still be taken. If you think your pet has ingested antifreeze you should contact your vet immediately.
bichonpawz
December 29, 2012 at 3:26 am (173 days ago)Great information!! Wish ALL the states would make it a law! Hope you had a fabulous Christmas Jen!
Gizmo (@GizmoGeodog)
December 29, 2012 at 7:14 am (173 days ago)That agreement is good news, but I too wish more states would make it mandatory.
Emma
December 29, 2012 at 7:39 am (173 days ago)Since the average human is usually not all that careful or aware of these dangers to us furry ones, this is good news! I hope it helps to save some more lives!
Jodi
December 29, 2012 at 8:27 am (173 days ago)Years ago we had some friends who had a number of cats. They suddenly started dying off and it was because they had ingested anti-freeze, whether by accident or on purpose we never knew.
This is great information and something a person who never had animals before might not know.
I think it has also helped that people do less of their own work on their cars. It’s not like it was when I was a kid when your dad was always tinkering under the car and catching whatever dripped out in a coffee can.
I’m glad to see that the anti-freeze manufacturers and lawmakers are working together on this. If people just did the right thing, there would be so less sadness in this world.
Jen
December 29, 2012 at 3:13 pm (172 days ago)This is true. I always try to be so careful, especially at the gas station when you see puddles of something on the ground. I always look at it as antifreeze and completely stay away from it seeing as I have a dog who likes to carry shoes around in his mouth!
Inge matthiesen
December 29, 2012 at 10:01 am (173 days ago)I am very happy to see these steps to make antifreeze undesirable to animals. Three years ago a very mean neighbour of mine mixed up a concoction of antifreeze and food in a bag and threw it over the fence for my German shepard to eat. Even with great efforts from my vet he needed to be put to sleep 4 days later. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction and it is my hope that Canada and the USA both make this happen for the good of all animals.
Jen
December 29, 2012 at 3:12 pm (172 days ago)Oh that is horrible and I’m sorry to read that happened to your dog. What type of cruel person would do that? That is just awful. I also this is a step forward for animals.
Jackie Bouchard
December 29, 2012 at 10:47 am (173 days ago)Gosh, this is great news. You have to wonder what took them so long though, no?
Kimberly, The Fur Mom
December 29, 2012 at 11:15 am (173 days ago)Thankfully we don’t keep antifreeze in our garage where our dogs gain access. Although they’re great about leaving things alone, when they get bored and are left to their own devices, there’s no telling what they’ll get in to and then our garage goes from being organized to being an accident waiting to happen.
Glad we’re a bitter additive state! Thanks for sharing this information. I had no idea why dogs went for antifreeze.
Jen
December 29, 2012 at 3:16 pm (172 days ago)We also keep ours up high on a shelf in a garage and I always try to avoid puddles of liquid at the gas station that are on the ground!
Yes, antifreeze has a very sweet taste and that is why dogs and other animals are drawn to it. The sweet taste and bright blue color is also a reason why children find it appealing.
KimT
December 29, 2012 at 12:13 pm (172 days ago)This is fantastic news! ‘Bout time!
jan
December 29, 2012 at 12:16 pm (172 days ago)We were so glad to see this, it was long overdue. And it isn’t just pets and wildlife. A toddler in our town died a few years ago from drinking it.
Julie
December 29, 2012 at 2:33 pm (172 days ago)Great news and long overdue! Seems like such a simple solution, one has to wonder why it took them so long. Have a great weekend!
sprinkles
December 29, 2012 at 6:28 pm (172 days ago)I’m glad they’re doing this. It’s just too bad that it took them so long to get around to doing it.
Bebe
December 29, 2012 at 9:28 pm (172 days ago)Hoping it makes a difference!
Roxy the traveling dog
December 30, 2012 at 11:02 am (172 days ago)I’m glad they are doing that. Hopefully it will help and save some lives.
Nichole
December 30, 2012 at 1:55 pm (171 days ago)Wonderful news! Now to get MY state included on that required list!
tylersat99
December 31, 2012 at 3:18 am (171 days ago)I think it’s great that they are adding a bitter flavor, I hope that deters animals from drinking. But you are right we have to store it safely and dispose of it properly so it doesn’t reach animals!!!
2 brown dawgs
December 31, 2012 at 7:13 am (171 days ago)Antifreeze and rat poisoning. People can never be too careful with those. Good post.
Jessica @ YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner
December 31, 2012 at 1:33 pm (170 days ago)I am aware of the dangers of antifreeze and this sounds like a step in the right direction…although Chester loves to eat nasty, nasty tasting stuff so I am not sure it would deter him.