Dog drank antifreeze: what to do
This is not a monitor-at-home toxin. Secure the pet, grab the label, and move toward emergency care.
Do this first
| Scenario | Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) exposure |
|---|---|
| Vet vs poison control vs ER | This is both a poison-control and ER emergency. Call the hotline while driving to the ER. Do not treat this as a wait-and-see home case. Antifreeze exposure can progress from seeming intoxicated to kidney failure. |
Immediate action steps
- Prevent further access and wipe paws or fur if contaminated
- Note the product name, approximate amount, and time of exposure
- Call poison control and head toward an emergency clinic immediately
- Do not wait for symptoms — early treatment is time-critical
- Bring the product label with you
Why minutes matter
Ethylene glycol can progress from seeming intoxicated to kidney failure. Early treatment windows are the point of the rush.
Do not wait for “proof” beyond a known or strongly suspected exposure.
Label truth
Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol products are not interchangeable. Read the active ingredient to the ER.
Wipe paws if the pet walked through a puddle, and say whether licking continued afterward.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Contact your vet for anything urgent or unclear.
FAQ
- It was only a few drops. Still go?
- Call poison control and an ER-capable clinic immediately. Do not self-clear a “few drops” exposure.