Post by Madhatter on Jan 22, 2013 11:37:07 GMT
Hundreds of pets are becoming seriously ill and in some cases dying because of the rock salt and antifreeze being used during the cold snap, animal charities warned yesterday.
Dogs and cats are walking through the substances left by gritters trying to clear roads and car drivers defrosting their windscreens and then licking them off their paws.
Consuming rock salt can cause dehydration, liver failure and pancreatitis, while antifreeze contains the chemical ethylene glycol, which can be lethal when ingested
The RSPCA said it has received 248 calls about cases involving cats and dogs between January 1 and mid-November this year, compared to 259 for the whole of 2009.
It expects this year's total to be 'considerably higher' once figures for the current freeze are taken into account - and added these would represent the 'tip of the iceberg' as only a fraction of cases are brought to its attention.
Victims include Amanda Walsh, 31, whose four-year-old grey tabby Bubbles died last week from anti-freeze poisoning, the third in her neighbourhood in a matter of days.
'She went missing last Tuesday and a neighbour said a cat similar to mine had been found the following afternoon,' said Mrs Walsh, a dinner lady from West Earlham, near Norwich.
'I went round to the people who found it and showed them a photo and they said straight away it was her. They'd found her lying down in their garden. She couldn't move and was mewling in pain.
'They wrapped her up and took her to the vet's. Originally they thought she'd been hit by a car but further investigation proved it to be antifreeze poisoning.
'I have two daughters and they're devastated. I just want people to be aware that this can happen. They should keep their pets indoors for the time being, if they can, and, if they do go out, try and wash their paws when they come back.'
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1341137/Hundreds-dogs-cats-die-rock-salt-scattered-gritters-big-freeze.html
Dogs and cats are walking through the substances left by gritters trying to clear roads and car drivers defrosting their windscreens and then licking them off their paws.
Consuming rock salt can cause dehydration, liver failure and pancreatitis, while antifreeze contains the chemical ethylene glycol, which can be lethal when ingested
The RSPCA said it has received 248 calls about cases involving cats and dogs between January 1 and mid-November this year, compared to 259 for the whole of 2009.
It expects this year's total to be 'considerably higher' once figures for the current freeze are taken into account - and added these would represent the 'tip of the iceberg' as only a fraction of cases are brought to its attention.
Victims include Amanda Walsh, 31, whose four-year-old grey tabby Bubbles died last week from anti-freeze poisoning, the third in her neighbourhood in a matter of days.
'She went missing last Tuesday and a neighbour said a cat similar to mine had been found the following afternoon,' said Mrs Walsh, a dinner lady from West Earlham, near Norwich.
'I went round to the people who found it and showed them a photo and they said straight away it was her. They'd found her lying down in their garden. She couldn't move and was mewling in pain.
'They wrapped her up and took her to the vet's. Originally they thought she'd been hit by a car but further investigation proved it to be antifreeze poisoning.
'I have two daughters and they're devastated. I just want people to be aware that this can happen. They should keep their pets indoors for the time being, if they can, and, if they do go out, try and wash their paws when they come back.'
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1341137/Hundreds-dogs-cats-die-rock-salt-scattered-gritters-big-freeze.html
