Each winter you are told about the dangers of antifreeze, and for a very good reason: The danger of this chemical cannot be stressed too much. It takes only a couple of laps to kill a dog. The dangerous element in conventional antifreeze is ethylene glycol (EG) because it changes into a crystalline acid inside the body and attacks the kidneys.

Antifreeze has a sweet taste, which appeals to animals and children. A dog can walk through antifreeze spilled on the driveway and ingest a fatal amount just from licking its paws clean.

Signs of antifreeze poisoning are depression, loss of coordination, vomiting and renal failure. Antifreeze poisoning is not easy to diagnose, is difficult to treat and has a poor prognosis. The tragedy is compounded because few pets are rushed to the veterinarian immediately. The signs progress rapidly, and by the time most owners realize something is wrong, it is too late. The only way to keep your pets safe is by prevention. Here are some basic safety rules:

• Tightly screw on antifreeze container tops and store them where dogs, cats and toddlers cannot reach
• Dispose of empty containers according to your local trash and environmental laws
• Wipe up all spills, however small, in your garage or driveway
• Prevent your dog from licking anything on the ground

Keep your dog on a leash. A dog let out on its own may find this deadly attraction in the neighbor's garage or driveway. The new "Safer" brand of antifreeze contains propylene glycol (PG), but the Poison Control Center warns that there's still danger if your pet ingests PG. Comparatively speaking, PG is safer than EG because it takes a greater quantity to have a toxic effect and PG does not have the effects on the kidneys. So for those two reasons, PG antifreeze is quite a bit safer.

However, if you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze of any kind, call your veterinarian immediately. Both PG and EG antifreezes show similar symptoms initially. They cause depressed, inebriated behaviors. And the treatment for EB, ethanol, needs to be administered before kidney damage can set in.

PG antifreeze is a step in the right direction but you still need to be careful and not have a false sense of security about your dog's safety if exposed.

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This information is made available to you by the efforts of YGRR volunteers. To join them in helping our homeless Goldens, please consider becoming a member or making a donation.

Thank you.

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