Dog Poisoning From Ethylene Glycol and The Importance of Early Diagnosis

Abstract

A study on the intoxicative effectof ethylene glycol in pets has been conducted. Three Albanian cities weremonitored, respectively Tirana, Korça, and Shkodra for a two-year period. Thedata from this study was collected in accordance with a questionnaire preparedin advance, before being processed and analyzed. The main highlightedindicators monitored were: the number of the intoxicated dogs, the number ofthe dogs who were treated, treatment period, mortality, number of the dogs whowere treated each month and season. The number of intoxicated dogs in all threecities was 59, whereas 52 were treated. 19% of the cases ended in death. Korçaresulted with the highest rate of treatment, and mortality as well, because ofthe wide use of the ethylene glycol. In only 32.7% of the cases the dogs weresent immediately to the clinic for treatment. The animals that were sent to theclinic late, resulted with a higher mortality rate (25.7% of the treatedanimals). The most ethylene glycol poisoning cases happened during the end ofspring and the beginning of summer (43 animals), which is related to the end ofthe frost season, when ethylene glycol is not used any more. Human negligence anda lack of awareness caused the dogs to be in contact with, and get poisoned by,the ethylene glycol solutions. The conclusion of the monitoring is that thereis a need to highlight that ethylene glycol intoxications are present in dogsand should be taken in to consideration, because they damage their health.