A Scots family have been left heartbroken after their cat became the third to die from anti-freeze poisoning on their street.
Five-year-old Dexter was poisoned on Bo'Ness Road, Grangemouth, and died on Saturday morning - making him the third pet to be killed in a matter of months.
Devastated owner Abigail Keith, 27, rushed Dexter to an emergency vet when he was continuously sick, became limp and had white eyes.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of Braid Vets in Edinburgh, Dexter couldn't be saved and test revealed he had toxins in his body, most likely from antifreeze poisoning.
Speaking to the Record, nursery teacher Abigail said: "My mum woke up around 3am to him being sick but that's nothing unusual so she cleaned it and went back to bed.
"At 6am she heard him being sick again and when she got up she realised there was a lot of sick. He then went limp and his head was flopping to the side. His eyes were pure white.
"She woke me up and he was trying to walk but collapsed on the floor. We took him straight to the emergency vets. They thought he was improving so they told us to go home but they phoned at 1pm to say to us to come in as it didn't look like he was going to make it.
"At 1.20pm they phoned back to say he had passed away and it was likely from antifreeze poisoning due to the toxins in his body. They said only 10 per cent of cats survive that."
Tests discovered Dexter had been poisoned by ethanol glycol which is an ingredient found in antifreeze but also brake fluid, weed killer and engine coolant.
In recent months there has been a worrying increase in cats dying of antifreeze poisoning across the country.
Abigail's next door neighbour lost their cat Lola to antifreeze poisoning in July and another cat on the street has also died of suspected antifreeze poisoning.
On September 11, Velvet the cat was discovered 'wobbly and lethargic' by her owner outside a property on Lothian Road in Stewarton, East Ayrshire. Her owner rushed her to an emergency vet who confirmed she was suffering from antifreeze poisoning and she had to be put to sleep hours later.
The shocking incidents come after two further cats died from suspected antifreeze poisoning on Philip Avenue, Bathgate, in August
One of the pets, named Frankie, had been missing for two days and was found shaking and unable to raise his head before he was sadly put to sleep by a vet. It was found that Frankie had suffered kidney and brain damage before his death - which are two classic symptoms of antifreeze poisoning.
Abigail and sister Aimee, 24, are now desperate to raise awareness of the symptoms so pet owners can act as soon as possible.
Abigail said: "Dexter was amazing and the most loving cat ever. He always came through in the morning for a cuddle. He had a cheeky nature and we really miss him. It is such a shock as he wasn't ill and it all happened in the space of 10 hours.
"I think even if it has been accidental, people are not taking care when they're using antifreeze. We want to raise awareness so it doesn't happen to anyone else.
"If it has been on purpose, how would that person feel if it was their child or pet? Dexter wasn't just an animal but a family member and it didn't just leave him in pain, it puts the whole family in pain as well."
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