A retrospective case series of companion animals hospitalized for ethylene glycol poisoning at a Canadian veterinary teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND

Ethylene glycol (EG), the toxic ingredient in some antifreeze products, is a potent animal poison.

OBJECTIVE AND ANIMALS: Our objective was to characterize EG poisoning in cats and dogs hospitalized at a Canadian veterinary teaching hospital.

PROCEDURE: We conducted a medical record review.

RESULTS

Twenty-one cases were included from the 17-year study period (dogs n = 15, cats n = 6). Common signalments were young male intact dogs (n = 5) and adult spayed female cats (n = 4). More cases were presented in summer (n = 10) than other seasons. Cases were often presented > 8 h after onset of signs (n = 12). Diagnostic tests included venous blood gas (n = 17), serum chemistry (n = 14), urinalysis (n = 14), AFAST/TFAST (n = 6), and full abdominal ultrasonography (n = 2). The most common treatments were IV fluids (n = 17) and 4-methylpyrazole (n = 8). The survival-to-discharge rates were 33% and 0% for dogs and cats, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Poisoning with EG had a high fatality rate in dogs and cats presented to the emergency clinic. Animals were often presented late in the course of poisoning, making antidotal therapy unsuccessful.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Regardless of time of year, EG should be considered a differential diagnosis for animals with CNS depression, gastrointestinal signs, and evidence of acute kidney injury. In clinics that do not have commercial diagnostic tests available, the authors recommend combining findings from venous blood gas, urinalysis, ultrasonography, and a Wood's lamp screen to establish a diagnosis.