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The important points, first
- If your pet may have licked or drunk antifreeze, call a veterinarian immediately. Treatment only works if it starts before the kidneys are damaged.
- According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, three to four teaspoons of antifreeze can be lethal for a dog, one to two for a cat.
- Keep antifreeze closed and out of reach, and clean up any spill straight away.
- When you get home, wipe paws with a damp cloth, and do not let your dog eat snow or slush treated with salt.
Why antifreeze is so dangerous
Ethylene glycol poisoning is common. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains why: antifreeze is found in many homes, tastes sweet, is often stored or thrown away carelessly, and very little is enough to kill an animal, three to four teaspoons for a dog and one to two for a cat. Besides radiator antifreeze, ethylene glycol is found in some brake and transmission fluids and in the fluids of certain heat-exchange systems.
In cold climates cases cluster in autumn, winter and early spring, when radiator fluid is topped up or changed. Since 2012, US manufacturers have added a bitter substance to antifreeze to deter animals, which may still find it palatable.123
Signs and why you should not wait
Between 30 minutes and 12 hours after ingestion, dogs and cats look drunk. They vomit, drink and urinate a lot, are dull and move in an uncoordinated way. Around 12 hours they may seem better for a while. Then kidney failure sets in, between 12 and 24 hours in cats and between 36 and 72 hours in dogs, with loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers, drooling, rapid breathing and, in severe cases, seizures or coma.
The longer the time between ingestion and treatment, the worse the outlook. Specific treatments exist, but they only work if started early, before the kidneys fail. Once kidney damage is severe, the chances of recovery are poor. The veterinarian should therefore be called at the first suspicion, without waiting for signs.12
Prevention in the garage and yard
Keep antifreeze in tightly closed containers where animals cannot reach it, and dispose of old antifreeze. If your car leaks fluid, clean it up straight away and cover the spot with cat litter, sawdust or another absorbent material, so your pet is not tempted to lick what is left.
Antifreeze based on propylene glycol is also sold. According to Merck it causes similar but less severe poisoning, usually with a better outcome, and lacks the sweet taste of ethylene glycol, so animals are less attracted to it. It should still be kept out of reach.1
De-icing salt and paws
De-icing products usually contain sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium chloride. The ASPCA poison control center explains that pets mostly swallow them by licking their feet after walking on a treated surface, or by eating salted snow. Some animals like the taste and, given the chance, eat it straight from the bag. The most common problem is stomach upset, with vomiting and diarrhoea. If a pet eats a lot, blood sodium can rise too high and cause tremors and seizures; calcium chloride can also cause mouth ulcers. On the paws, salt irritates and can crack the pads.
As soon as you get home, wipe your dog’s paws with a damp cloth or baby wipe and try to stop licking until they are clean. On the way, do not let your dog eat snow or slush. If the pads become red, cracked or bleed, paw wax or booties act as a barrier. Watch for limping and persistent licking too. Products sold as “pet safe” usually contain urea or magnesium chloride and can still upset the stomach, and there are no specific requirements for using that label. If your pet has eaten a de-icer or shows signs, contact a veterinarian.453
Sources and checks
Numbers in the text lead to the exact source. Commercial blogs and social posts are not used as evidence.
- 1Peer-reviewed veterinary manual
Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze) Poisoning
Merck Veterinary Manual · Special Pet Topics · Sweet taste and tiny lethal dose, phases of poisoning, antidote effective only before kidney failure, prevention, propylene glycol.
Link checked on 16 Sept 2026 - 2Peer-reviewed veterinary manual
Ethylene Glycol Toxicosis in Animals
Merck Veterinary Manual · Toxicology · Seasonality, bittering agents added in the US, timing of clinical signs in dogs and cats.
Link checked on 16 Sept 2026 - 3University veterinary centre
Small Animal Toxins
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine · Antifreeze ethylene glycol toxic to dogs and cats; calcium chloride in ice melts irritating to skin and gastrointestinal tract.
Link checked on 16 Sept 2026 - 4Institutional poison control centre
Keeping Pets Safe during Winter: The Dangers of Ice Melts
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center · Exposure routes, signs after ingestion, cleaning paws, paw wax and booties, “pet-friendly” products.
Link checked on 16 Sept 2026 - 5Institutional poison control centre
Is It Safe to Use De-Icers Around Your Dog?
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center · Types of de-icer, paw and gastrointestinal irritation, limping and licking to watch for, no requirements for “pet safe” labels, alternatives.
Link checked on 16 Sept 2026
This guide cannot assess an individual exposure. If your pet may have swallowed antifreeze or de-icing salt, contact a veterinarian immediately.