Cats and Poisoning - Useful Tips for Cat Owners
Cats can get poisoned quite easily. Poisoning is common with both indoor and outdoor cats.
Depending on the type of poison, even small doses are often enough to cause massive damage.
You should also know how to recognise poisoning in your cat and what measures you should take in an emergency.
Causes of poisoning in cats
Poisoning in cats can have many causes. In addition to the consumption of plants that are poisonous to cats, the administration of inappropriate medication by the owner is a potential risk.
While certain active ingredients, such as paracetamol, are largely harmless to humans, the ingestion of them is highly dangerous for cats. For this reason, we strongly advise you not to treat your four-legged friend with medication without consulting a vet.
You should also be aware that many foods that are harmless to humans are poisonous to your cat and the wrong snack for your house cat can be fatal in the worst case.
Other possible causes of poisoning in cats are ingestion or inhalation of poisonous substances and eating a prey animal that has previously poisoned itself with rat poison.
Symptoms of a poisoning
A poisoning is associated with a number of symptoms. The symptoms depend on the exact type of poison and the amount ingested.
The following symptoms can indicate that a cat has been poisoned:
- The cat vomits.
- The cat has diarrhoea.
- The quadruped appears dazed.
- The cat drools and salivates.
- The pupils are very small or very dilated.
- The cat trembles and convulses.
- Paralysis appears.
- The cat seems anxious and nervous.
Be aware that poisoning in cats does not always lead to immediate symptoms. It is quite possible that a cat is poisoned only gradually through regular contact with harmful substances.
If this is the case, health problems will increase over time. As a result, for example, the liver may be damaged or the cat may develop kidney failure.
Diagnosis of poisoning in cats
If you fear that your cat may have poisoned itself, a visit to the vet is essential. Because poisoning is always a medical emergency that you cannot treat on your own.
You should therefore drive to the nearest veterinary practice or clinic immediately and announce your arrival in advance to avoid waiting times. If you know what your cat has been poisoned with, bring a sample if possible.
This will make it easier for the veterinarian to diagnose and determine what treatment is needed. Apart from this, the vet will usually use saliva samples and blood tests to help diagnose the poisoning in your cat.
Imaging, blood and urine tests, and other methods are used to detect chronic poisoning. In this way, the veterinarian looks for any organ changes and determines the values of the kidneys and liver.
Treatment of a poisoned cat
Which measures are necessary to treat your poisoned cat depends on the type of poison, the amount ingested and the time of consumption.
If the poisoning was not very long ago, a gastric lavage may help to remove much of the toxin from your cat's body.
For some poisons it is also possible to administer an antidote. This neutralises the effect of the actual poison and can prevent further damage if taken in time.
It may also be necessary to give your poisoned cat additional respiration or infusions.
Prognosis for poisoned cats
The faster your cat is treated in case of poisoning, the better her chances of recovery. However, the prognosis is not always favourable. Depending on the type and dose of the poison, the poisoning can be fatal or at least cause permanent damage.
This is especially true for young cats as well as old and weakened animals, because their immune system is not yet, or no longer, fully functional.
Support the recovery of your cat
After your poisoned cat has been professionally cared for by a vet, it is very important that you support your house cat optimally in its recovery. For this purpose, make sure that you get enough rest and pay special attention to your cat in the near future.
Furthermore, a dietary supplement with Shiimun Immune can be useful. The natural preparation based on shiitake contains selected herbs and medicinal plants with which you can strengthen the stressed immune system of your cat in a digestible way.
Poisoning in cats - our conclusion
As you can see, poisoning can have fatal consequences for cats and in the worst case can even be fatal. To prevent your cat from getting poisoned, you should always keep potential contaminants such as cleaning products safe and remove poisonous plants from your home.
Also, only give your cat medication prescribed by the vet and avoid feeding him potentially harmful food. In the I love my cat range you will find healthy cat food that your cat will enjoy much more than a supposed treat from your own plate.
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