Household products
Is antifreeze toxic to cats and dogs?
Also sold as ethylene glycol, coolant, screen wash
Cats
Highly toxicDogs
Highly toxicAntifreeze tastes sweet and a few teaspoons can cause fatal kidney failure. It is an emergency even if your pet seems well — the antidote only works in the first few hours.
By Maya HartIf your pet got into it
- This is an emergency.
- Go to a vet now — treatment must start within about 3 hours for cats and 8 hours for dogs.
Signs to watch for
- Wobbliness, as if drunk, within an hour
- Vomiting and drinking a lot
- An apparent recovery after 12 hours
- Kidney failure after 1–3 days: no urine, vomiting, collapse
How much is dangerous
About a teaspoon can kill a cat; a few tablespoons can kill a medium-sized dog.
Keeping it safe
- Store antifreeze sealed and high up
- Clean up spills immediately
- Choose propylene glycol products, which are far less toxic
The details
The first signs look like drunkenness and pass, which leads owners to think the danger is over. Meanwhile the body turns ethylene glycol into compounds that crystallise in the kidneys. Blood tests can confirm exposure, and the antidote prevents that conversion if given early.
Questions owners ask
Is antifreeze toxic to cats?
Yes — highly toxic.
Is antifreeze toxic to dogs?
Yes — highly toxic.
How much is dangerous?
About a teaspoon can kill a cat; a few tablespoons can kill a medium-sized dog.
What should I do if my pet got into it?
This is an emergency. Go to a vet now — treatment must start within about 3 hours for cats and 8 hours for dogs.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts