This stops the first rate-limiting step of ethylene glycols metabolism to glycoaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase. Glycoaldehyde is metabolized to glycolic acid, the primary metabolite for metabolic acidosis, and glyoxylic acid. Glyoxylic acid is further metabolized to oxalic acid, glycine, and formic acid. Peritoneal dialysis may be used if acute renal failure occurs. A recent treatment of 4-methylpyrazole is being widely used, however, it does not work on cats.
Animals exhibiting clinical signs have a poor prognosis because of renal involvement.
Renal tubular regeneration is possible, since tubular basement membranes tend to be spared. Clinical signs of chronic low level poisoning produce gastrintestinal signs, such as vomiting, abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhea, and megaesophagus. Acute poisoning result in CNS signs, such as convulsions, hysteria, ataxia, tremors, and blindness. Treatment should include eliminating the lead source, and limiting further gastrointestinal absorption. Both to be used only for 1-2 weeks.