| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Canadian farmgirl |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 09:52:18 AM
This has been a horrible week, and I am posting this to educate everyone about the dangers of antifreeze and animals.
Monday morning was a typical morning, my teenage daughter was up before me, and let the cat out around 6:45 am as she always does. Kitty goes out from our kitchen into the garage, and we leave the back door open on the garage so she goes out from there.
When I got up at 7, I let the cat back in. It was still dark out. When I shut the door, we both heard a strange, shifting sound in the garage, where my car was parked. Looking out, I was absolutely stunned to see a large wooden shelf unit that my husband had mounted up high on one wall (over a year ago) had collapsed in the night, and crashed next to my car, spewing the contents of the shelf all over the floor of the garage. It wasn't very light in there, but I could tell it had hit the door of the car, and there were a million nails and screws all over the floor, from an organizer unit that had broken. After I got the kids off to school, hubby and I went out to assess the damage--bad news, a big bash in the side of the car. I called the insurance company, and got things arranged with them, then I had to pick up all these nails so I could back the car out. Once he got the shelf away from the car, I could see that a jug of antifreeze had hit the ground and cracked, leaking on the floor quite a bit. I mentioned the cat to him, and he said she looked fine, just worry about the car.
So, off I went to town to take the car to the collision repair place for an estimate ($1,089 damage). Once I got back at noon, I decided to call the vet anyway. After telling them what had transpired, they told me to bring her down IMMEDIATELY as there was only a narrow window of time to help her, if she had gotten into it. If you wait until the animal shows symptoms, it's too late to save them! They did blood work and determined that she had indeed ingested some, probably from walking in it. My poor baby, she's the family pet, and so I told them to go ahead with the treatment. They had to hook her up to IV and flush her kidneys, and she had to have vodka in her IV! This is the only thing that works, apparently the ethylene glycol attaches to the kidney walls and fries them, so the vodka competes with the ethylene glycol and dislodges it, then the cat passes it. Monday night was a nail-biter, we all felt so bad, and prayed the cat would pull through. I am so thankful I listened to my inner voice, and I did not ignore this, as by the time they started the treatment, 8 hours had passed, and they said they have to catch it within 8-12 hours, or it's too late for the animal.
So, my cat has pulled through this, hopefully. I brought her back home yesterday, and she has eyes like saucers, from the vodka! Apparently this will pass. She's very tired, too, probably from not sleeping much, either. She has to go back and have more blood work done, to see how her kidneys are functioning, but the doctor is optimistic.
A scare like this is awful at any time, but right at Christmas, it makes you really put your world in perspective. My teenage children are so kind, they have offered to pitch in and help with the vet bill, as times have been very tough this fall at home, and I also have an unexpected car insurance deductible to pay. They made me cry.
So, farmgirls, double check your storage of antifreeze. We thought we had it in a safe place, up out of harm's reach. And if you suspect your pet might have gotten into some, act quickly.
Lori
Farmgirl Sister #183 |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 4:52:55 PM
Thanks for sharing your story, Lori. It is so important to keep an eye on things. But stuff happens. I am glad your kitty is going to be ok.
And we should also watch out for oil, too. My husband changed the oil in our car last weekend and left the drain pan out where the cat and dog water bowls are. Well, I didn't know it for several days and it had been raining and had some water in it. I had noticed my 2 year old lab throwing up a few days before and maybe he had drank from that oil drian pan. There was a little oil residue in the pan when I dumped it out. But I suppose that could do serious damage to an animal, too, if they drank too much. He's fine now.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 3:49:07 PM
We lost a cat to just that thing. My neighbor had been working on his car and left the antifreeze in a bucket. We had no idea until we found Matthias unable to walk in the garden one morning.
I am so glad that yours is on the mend. It is amazing what animals will get into. Thank goodness you had her checked!
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
www.perfectlittlemiracle.blogspot.com
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| MuslinBunnies |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 2:23:44 PM
I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty's scare with antifreeze. I hope she will come through just fine.
Here is an alternative to conventional antifreeze you may want to consider. It's a lot safer than regular antifreeze and from what I understand it doesn't taste sweet to the animals like regular antifreeze either. http://www.sierraantifreeze.com/benefit.html
There are also animal safe ice melts available. I like using this one: http://www.safepaw.com/fact-sheet.html . It is not only safer for the animals, but if you have small children, you do not have to worry so much about it getting in their mouths when it is tracked inside on your shoes.
Tina A.
My Website: http://muslinbunnies.tripod.com/
My Button Quail Site: http://groups.google.com/group/button-quail-planet |
| Canadian farmgirl |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 1:45:35 PM
Wow, Kathy, that is very kind of you, but not necessary. We'll be fine! I posted this today so that others would learn about the dangers of antifreeze and animals. I just hate to see animals being hurt because of the manmade dangers of our world.
Your generous offer exemplifies the farmgirl spirit found on this forum.
Hugs & blessings,
Lori
Farmgirl Sister #183 |
| EnchantedWoodsGirl |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 1:36:14 PM
Antifreeze is also very tempting for a cat/dog, they seem to like the taste of it. It is one of those things that frightens me so. I hope your cat will be okay. If you like, do you have a Pay Pal acct and I can make a small donation to help you if you like. Let me know! I love my animals so much, they are the reason I get up every day of my life and they are my life!
Hugs to you and your kitty,
Kathy of the Enchanted Wood
Kathy of the Enchanted Wood
Farmgirl Sister #59
http://enchantedwoodmusings.blogspot.com/
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| Alee |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 11:01:54 AM
That is very scary! I am glad your kitty seems to be recovering nicely!! *hugs*
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 10:18:21 AM
That's very scary. My husband always worries about the antifreeze that leaks from the old cars he works on in our garage. I'll keep a closer eye on our cat this summer. |
| Annika |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 10:08:19 AM
Lori, that is scary, poor kitty! I'm glad that the prognosis is good, *hugs* let us know how she is doing?
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Mud Hen Queen
MJ's Heirloom Maven's Librarian
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| MsCwick |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 10:01:51 AM
Aww Lori, it's a good thing you took her in anyways. I put biospot on our cat SamSam, and he got all sickly and had to stay on IV and meds at the vet for about 3 days. That's a scary thing to think about their little bodies being overcome by a nasty chemical.
Well, samsam pulled through, but last week he went missing. He looked like Marian's Elvis(dutchy) and he was our dog's best friend...So sad.
I'm glad your little girl is ok. even when chemicals are outside, they could still be kept in a cabinet or somewhere where they can't get knocked over....
Cristine |
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