My cat drank antifreeze — is it dangerous?
'Antigelo' = an-tee-JEH-loh. 'Pericoloso' = peh-ree-ko-LOH-zoh. Emergency phrase — time is critical.
Emergency call after discovering your cat has ingested antifreeze — a veterinary emergency.
'Ha bevuto' (has drunk) is the passato prossimo of 'bere'. Ethylene glycol (the active ingredient in most antifreeze/antigelo) is extremely toxic to cats and dogs — it causes acute kidney failure within 24-72 hours. Treatment must begin within hours of ingestion. Italian veterinary emergency services must be contacted immediately. This is one of the most time-critical poisoning emergencies in small animals.
Non so quanto ne ha bevuto — era una pozza per terra.
I don't know how much it drank — there was a puddle on the ground.
Even small amounts of ethylene glycol are lethal to cats — any exposure is an emergency.
Ci sono antidoti per l'avvelenamento da antigelo nei gatti?
Are there antidotes for antifreeze poisoning in cats?
Yes — ethanol (IV) or fomepizole — must be administered within 3-5 hours.
Il gatto trema e sembra ubriaco — può essere l'antigelo?
The cat is trembling and seems drunk — could it be antifreeze?
Early antifreeze toxicity presents as ataxia (drunkenness) — immediate vet required.
Antifreeze (antigelo) is particularly dangerous to cats because of its sweet taste. Italian vets frequently see ethylene glycol poisoning in autumn and winter. Propylene glycol-based antifreeze (marketed as 'pet-safe') is available in Italy but less common. Even 'pet-safe' variants can cause harm in large quantities. Always store antifreeze in sealed containers away from animals.