Posted on 03/09/2014 9:52:19 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows
For many people, arriving at A&E at death’s door and being told the only way for you to survive was to get blind drunk would count as a result.
That’s the situation Maltese terrier Charlie found himself in after being left with hours to live after licking coolant from his owner Jacinta Rosewarne’s garage.
Quick-thinking vets deduced that the little dog had ethylene glycol poisoning, which can lead to kidney failure – and the only treatment was to get him as drunk as possible.
Because pure alcohol can alter antifreeze chemicals and allow them to be flushed out of an animal’s body, Charlie was given 700ml of vodka over two days via a tube.
Animal Accident & Emergency wrote on its blog: ‘For the whole weekend, Charlie had a huge party with us in the Pet ICU.’
It almost certainly saved his life – but also left him with an almighty hangover.
‘He was definitely drunk,’ said Ms Rosewarne, from Melbourne, in Australia, told the Herald Sun.
‘He was stumbling around, I’d go to pat him and he’d push me away like a normal drunk person, he was vomiting a little, whining like a drunk.’
She added: ‘I thought it was hilarious. It was distressing but funny at the same time.
For the record, alcohol does not "alter antifreeze chemicals and allow them to be flushed out of an animal’s body" - it competes with ethylene glycol for alcohol dehydrogenase, and thus interrupts the chain of reactions that transforms antifreeze into toxic metabolites. (Yes, I had to say that.)
The mind boggles.
“To save this dog, we must get it blitzed!”
*whimper*
“Bring out the 151!!”
Later on, dog and man are blind drunk, and griping about sports..
Thanks for posting this! I had no idea that there was and “antidote” for ethylene glycol poisoning. Thought it was a sure death sentence for any animal (including human) who consumed this stuff.
You’re very welcome. It also works for methanol poisoning.
*chuckle* Great visual.
Time for a couple shots for me! Damn time change!
Science slam dunk award!
You don’t need to take the ethylene glycol first, you know.
My pharmacy professors would be pleased.
That was also done in an old episode of House.
Help for antifreeze poisoning is iffy at best.
(And a thousand bloody curses on those who poison pets)
[cue “Hair of the Dog” by Nazareth]
Thank you.
:)
(Can’t imagine thinking it was funny, had it been my dog)
“You don’t need to take the ethylene glycol first, you know.”
Oh! Great! Now you tell me!
Aye, but now you know what to do...
You’re welcome.
FWIW, the funny seems to have a strong element of gallows humor.
*dog has a paw on mans shoulder. Both are egregiously drunk and swaying side to side*
“Now..ness time tha ref bloass a cuhall...I wan you ta bite’m!”
Dog gives a bubbling growl, laps more whiskey, wags tail.
“Now hang on there doc! You know dogs and sports talk don’t mix while drunk!”
Doc looks at his assistant, then the dog.
“Bite’m too!” Doc said, pointing at his assistant.
Dog stumbles over, hiccups, trips, then lazily chews on toe of assistant’s shoe.
“*heavy sigh* Oh, ow. Agony, I am undone. Woe unto me, my end is nigh.” the assistant recited to the hearty tail wag thump at his feet.
> Help for antifreeze poisoning is iffy at best.
For humans, the prognosis is very good. (I’m guessing you were talking about dogs.)
Yeah.
I have to focus more on “drunk dog” as antifreeze poisoning rescue has been unsuccessful in my experience.
I’ve known this “cure” and kept it close for a long time because of the psycho up the hill.
He tried it once but “the grapevine chatter” afterword must’ve dissuaded him from another try.
I have the biggest UV flashlight you’ve ever seen, I bet.
I still check the yard for anything “glowing”. ..and he can see me doing it.
He can see the IR lights on the security camera facing his house, too..
The bastard.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.