My dog ate antifreeze—what should I do?
Call a vet nowCall your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Ethylene glycol poisoning can cause kidney failure and death.
What to do right now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
- Note what was eaten, how much, and when.
- Bring the packaging.
- Keep your dog calm.
- Remove what is left.
Don't
- Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Do not give any human medicine.
Why it can be dangerous
In cats, even a very small amount (around a teaspoon) of concentrated antifreeze can cause kidney failure and death.[2] In cats, most untreated animals die within 24–72 h after ingestion.[4] Pets can be exposed to antifreeze through leaking vehicles, containers in garages and storage sheds, winterized RV plumbing including toilets, and improperly disposed vehicular waste fluids.[3]
Where it is found
Not sure how serious it is?
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Common questions
How much antifreeze is dangerous for my dog?
Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now, and tell them what was eaten, how much, and when.
What signs should I watch for?
Do not wait for signs before calling your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
How soon can this become fatal?
In cats, most untreated animals die within 24–72 h after ingestion. Do not wait to call.[4]
Sources
- US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine
- Animal PoisonLine (UK, VPIS)
- Pet Poison Helpline
- Ethylene glycol poisoning in a free-roaming cat, Front Vet Sci 2026
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages
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