Ethylene glycol (EG) is the primary component of antifreeze (95% EG), but is also found in paints, lacquers, pharmaceuticals, polishes and cosmetics. Antifreeze also has a high concentration of phosphates as rust inhibitors. Fluorscein is added to aid in detecting radiator leaks.

Exposure to ethylene glycol is usually accidental. Dogs may ingest antifreeze from leaking radiators or during changing the antifreeze, or if bottles are left in an accessible location. They may also drink antifreeze placed in the toilet bowl of seasonal homes. Cats may be exposed similarly. Antifreeze that gets on their feet or fur can be consumed during grooming. The lethal dose is 4.4 to 6.6 ml/kg in dogs and 1.5 ml/kg in cats. Cats are far more susceptible to the ill effects of EG. Although exact dose is rarely known in clinical cases, it is likely that sub-lethal doses will cause significant renal impairment.

Metabolism

Clinical signs

There are 3 stages of intoxication with EG. EG is rapidly absorbed from the stomach, with peak levels in 1-3 hours. EG has direct neurologic effects that resemble intoxication (depression, incoordination, ataxia, somnolence, or seizures). There may be vomiting from gastric mucosal irritation. Polydipsia is common in dogs and profound polyuria is common in both dogs and cats, due to high serum osmolality from the substance triggering the thirst mechanism, and an osmotic diuresis from renal elimination of ethylene glycol. These signs may resolve within 12 hours, and many owners interpret this as resolution of the problem and do not seek veterinary attention. The second stage, from 12-24 hours, involves tachycardia and tachypnea, which may be from the metabolic acidosis. Stage 3 is oliguric renal failure, which occurs 24-72 hours post ingestion in dogs, but as early as 12 hours in cats. Signs of uremia and renal pain are typically present.

Diagnosis

Severe high anion gap metabolic acidosis may be present prior to the onset of severe azotemia. The metabolic intermediaries are organic acids (i.e. glycolic acid, oxalic acid) that overwhelm the body's buffer capacity. The anion gap is calculated from the formula:
(Na+ + K+) – (Cl- + HCO3-)

Normal is 16-24. If serum osmolality can be measured, it will be higher than the calculated osmolality, as ethylene glycol is an unmeasured osmole. Serum osmolality is calculated from the formula:
2(Na+ + K+) + (BUN/2.8) + (glucose/18)

when BUN and glucose are measured in mg/dl. Normal is 280-310 mOsm/kg. The difference in osmolal measured and calculated osmolality can be used to estimate the ethylene glycol concentration by multiplying the difference by 6.2.

Azotemia progresses rapidly. Hyperphosphatemia is common and severe, both from the decreased renal excretion and from phosphate-containing rust inhibitors in antifreeze. Hypocalcemia can also be profound, due to the acute rise in phosphorus and precipitation of calcium by oxalate. Ionized hypocalcemia may be significant enough to cause clinical signs of tetany or seizures. Hyperglycemia is also common, from inhibition of glucose metabolism and stress hormone release. CBC changes are usually non-specific.

A classic finding on urinalysis is calcium oxalate crystalluria. The most common form are dihydrate (maltese cross or envelope shaped) but monohydrate forms (picket fence, dumbbell) are seen also. Crystals first appear 3-6 hours after ingestion. Other findings consistent with acute renal failure (isothenuria, glucosuria, hematuria and casts) are common. As calcium oxalate crystals deposit in the kidneys, they become "brighter" both on survey radiographs and ultrasonography. Because of the fluorescein that is added to antifreeze, the urine (or gastric contents) may fluoresce with a Wood's lamp.

A commercial test kit (Allelic Biosystems Ethylene Glycol Test Kit, PRN Pharmacal, Inc., Pensacola, FL) is available to test for EG in blood. The test would be expected to be positive in 1-12 hours post ingestion and potentially up to 24 hours. After 24 hours, most EG has been metabolized and the test may be negative despite severe toxicosis. The test kit also detects propylene glycol, which is a component of many drugs (i.e. diazepam, activated charcoal) and other toxins (metaldehyde snail bait), so pretreatment samples should be utilized. The test kit is not sensitive enough to reliably detect ingestion in cats. A new dipstick-type test is available with a lower (20 ppm vs 50 ppm) detection limit (Kacey, Ashevill, NC), but the accuracy is lower at lower concentrations. Toxicology laboratories can quantify concentrations of ethylene glyol and glycoaldehyde, whereas the cageside test kits give qualitative or semiquantatitive results. However, analysis from a toxicology lab may not be available in a timely fashion.