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'Dead cat' plague strikes Ireland -- motorists' antifreeze pinned down as the unlikely culprit
Posted on Monday, December 26, 2011 at 09:35 AM
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| Source: Wikipedia |
A plague of sudden and unforewarned cat deaths has torn through Ireland in recent days.
The culprit? Common antifreeze -- the sweet-smelling chemical that motorists use to keep their vehicles running in icy conditions.
The bizarre story comes as pet owners nationwide have reported a sudden spike in the number of sudden inexplicable deaths of their beloved felines in recent weeks.
Exact incidences have not been forthcoming, but one University College Dublin based vet remarked that: “Over the past few weeks we have seen an increase in the number of cats referred to the UCD Veterinary Hospital by local veterinary practitioners," confirming what many had already known.
“Many have died suddenly or after a short illness, and our post-mortem examinations have confirmed that these animals experienced rapid kidney failure following the ingestion of ethylene glycol, a major component of anti-freeze," the vet told the Irish Examiner.
The alarm was raised after pets around the country -- from Carlow to Cork and seemingly just about every county in between -- were found lying lifeless after having been struck down by the viscous chemical.
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It also seems as if dogs could be at risk unless preventative measure are brought into play -- a scenario that will prompt worry among canine-lovers as Ireland's winter continues.
“We cannot identify the precise sources of the ethylene glycol that is poisoning an increasing number of cats, but we are asking people to be vigilant with the storage, use, and disposal of their anti-freeze products," the vet said.
Cats are believed to be ingesting it after licking it off the sides of road surfaces, while dogs are reported to be scavenging for more plentiful sources, typically puddles and other greater accumulations of the toxic chemical.
Leaky car radiators have been pointed to as another source for the shocking outbreak.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is reported to be contemplating offering motorists official warning of the hazards of overusing antifreeze, while cautioning pet owners to be wary about letting their animals roam near areas that may have the liquid on their surfaces.
Unfortunately antifreeze has become something of a wintertime staple for Irish motorists following a series of unusually cold and difficult winters.
It can be purchased in common supermarkets for bargain-basement prices -- and it takes just a few mililitres of it to render any pet that ingests it a walking dead duck.
Pets that ingest the chemical will typically become uncoordinated and dizzy before finally succumbing to kidney failure and dying.
Dullness and listlessness are other warning signs of the pre renal failure stages but by then it is unlikely anything can be done.
See more: News from Ireland
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GeorgeDillon | Dec 28, 2011, 02:49 PM EST
Betababy: I think you've used the wrong address. You need to write to sirpeter@idiots dot ie--he'd love to hear from you. Of course if you play for the other team, you might try ciarydexy@illiterates dot ie.
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IronMountainMovies | Dec 28, 2011, 11:50 AM EST
Oh Dear. It seems that if you reported King Kong was climbing Liberty Hall in Dublin people would take the story seriously. So much for a discerning and educated public. Anti Freeze killing cats and dogs? My Arse! Firstly how to you quantify such a story? Hold post mortems on all dead cats found by the roadside? Oh a vet told us. Oh then it must be true. God! Stop trying to turn Irish Central into a shittier 'News of the World'.
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LaoiseRyan | Dec 28, 2011, 09:56 AM EST
jamieLM, Its not even negligence. How is someone meant to know that their car radiator isnt working properly or is leaking? I dont check mine everyday.
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betababy10 | Dec 28, 2011, 01:00 AM EST
HELLO
How are you my dear,My name is Beta 23 YEARS girl i saw your profile in this site i become interested to know more about you,hope we will move from here i am not so beautiful as those in your country,but love is all about caring and understanding,reply to my inbox(betababy4me@yahoo.com)So that i can send you my picture and every details about me,
Miss Beta
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Fran Connor | Dec 27, 2011, 10:09 AM EST
I understand that they actually got something correct in California a few years ago. They passed a law requiring anti-freeze to have an additive put into it that tastes terrible to cats and dogs. It seems to have solved the problem.
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jamieLM | Dec 27, 2011, 09:10 AM EST
@sirpeter, I have to agree with you. We've had horrible cases of animal abuse in the U.S. Unfortunately, I think animal abusers can be found in just about every country. @ciraradexy - agree with you. I'd call this negligence to allow easy access to anti-freeze, not deliberate animal abuse. Children in the U.S. have also been known to ingest anti-freeze and these cases were called "accidents."
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sirpeter | Dec 26, 2011, 09:19 PM EST
Georgie Boy I'll refrain since it's holiday time too.But I betcha I can drag up even more sickening stories closer to home for our American readers.You can start after the New Year.I like a challenge.It was great fun making a plonker out of ya in 2011.Be sure and up your dose of meds Georgie Boy.I get the feeling 2012 is where you have a mental meltdown.
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ciaradexy | Dec 26, 2011, 06:27 PM EST
So a cat licking a puddle which may contain anti-freeze which dripped from a car radiator is now animal cruelty? Its winter, people put anti-freeze into their cars, its hardly trying to kill cats now is it?
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GeorgeDillon | Dec 26, 2011, 12:27 PM EST
Not surprised. The Irish have a very bad record with regard to abuse of animals. I could mention cases of cruelty to cats, horse and donkeys here that would sicken our American readers but I'll refrain since it's holiday time.
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