Chemical
Poisoning
There
are many chemicals in and around our homes, garages, gardens and yards
that can be deadly to our cats. Some of these things we take for granted
and do not anticipate that our furry friends would ever get into them.
There are so many in fact, I could write a book on it! But for the
purpose of this article I will concentrate on some of the most common
chemicals that can cause severe illness and perhaps death.
In
the Home
Household Cleaners
Bleach and anything containing bleach
I am starting with this one, as I had NO IDEA that a cat would be
attracted to BLEACH! I mean my cats act like this is catnip! I totally
freaked when I caught my cat rubbing and rolling and licking this
up from the floor! Bleach is a caustic alkali. It can be quite serious
if consumed. Some household products that contain bleach are drain
decloggers, mildew removers, liquid and dry laundry detergents.
Symptoms:
Burns in the mouth and esophagus (also in the stomach but this not
seen). Upon reaching the stomach with its acidity can set up a pretty
bad scenario (remember basic chemistry, never mix acids and bases/alkalis).
When acids and bases get together it can cause heat burns in conjunction
with caustic burns.
Treatment:
DO NOT induce vomiting as more severe esophageal and mouth burning
may occur, as well as rupturing the stomach or esophagus.
DO wash the mouth out thoroughly and inspect for burns.
DO offer TUMS to counteract the stomach acid. ½ tab for kittens
and 1-2 tabs for adults depending upon size (though a little more
is better than a little less).
DO get to a vet asap.
Soaps
While most body and hand soaps are not toxic, they can cause diarrhea,
gastrointestinal upset, vomiting and frothing from the mouth. It is
important to pay attention to the ingredients in the soaps to know
whether toxicity is a problem. (See Metals Zinc)
Toothpaste
Human toothpaste is NOT good for cats. They are however attracted
to it. Usually it’s the minty or wintergreen odors that attract
the cats. The danger is Sodium Fluoride. When ingested the fluoride
combines with the stomach acids making a highly corrosive form of
hydrochloric acid, that can literally eat through the stomach lining.
Repeated overdoses can cause calcification of ligaments and thus causing
brittle bones.
Treatment:
Wash out mouth to remove any remaining toothpaste, DO NOT vomit. Do
offer milk or water and seek veterinarian assistance.
Detergents
(laundry soaps, dry dishwasher soaps)
Contain sodium carbonate, bleach and other chemicals that are caustic.
Treatment:
If in eyes, flush the eyes thoroughly with clean water. If ingested,
DO NOT VOMIT. Rinse out mouth and offer water or milk and seek veterinarian
attention. Be sure to bring the container along so proper treatment
can be diagnosed.
Medicines
Cats are highly sensitive to medications. Most human medicines (even
the most seemingly benign) can be quite toxic to cats. The liver and
kidneys are most often effected by medicines.
Symptoms:
Depending upon the medicine ingested and amount (remember even small
amounts can be toxic) the symptoms will vary.
Treatment:
Vomiting is recommended by either syrup of ipecac or hydrogen peroxide.
Be sure to collect the medicine(s) consumed, with the bottle they
came in, attempt to determine how much the cat ingested (this should
be done at the vets). Taking the medicine with you will allow the
vet to determine dose and toxicity, they may have to call the Poison
Control Center as well and having this info right on hand will assist
in speedy proper care.
Veterinarian
Treatment: Your vet is apt to administer apomorphine by injection
to further vomit the cat and offer charcoal to absorb any remaining
toxins in the stomach. Other treatment will depend upon the type of
medicine and blood work to determine if liver or kidneys have been
compromised. Supportive Care such as Oxygen, IV fluids and other medicines
to assist in counteracting the toxin.
House
Plants
Many Plants are toxic to cats. Some plants are all toxic, some only
leaves, roots stems or fruit/flowers. There are too many to list in
this article so please refer to these links.
Methlyzanthines: (coffee, chocolate and stimulants)
A
lethal dose varies from 100-300 mg/kg.
Symptoms:
Usually appear with in one to fours hours after ingestion and includes
vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, hyperexcitability, tremors, seizures,
and coma. Secondary pancreatitis may develop in some animals. Death
results from seizures or cardiac arrhythmia.
Treatment:
Vomiting followed with activated charcoal. Narcotics may be used to
control seizures. Steroids should be avoided because they reduce urinary
excretion of methylxanthines.
Food
Poisoning
Cats have a lower tolerance for food poisoning than dogs. While they
generally more picky, they might still want to sample some of that
odiferous food from the trash can.
Symptoms:
Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea (often bloody) and shock.
Treatment:
If you witness the cat eating known spoiled food, induce vomiting
by either syrup of ipecac or hydrogen peroxide. Once the stomach has
calmed, you can offer something that coats the stomach such as Maalox
and seek veterinarian advice. Mild cases usually resolve in a few
days. More severe cases will need veterinarian intervention and support
(IV fluids and antibiotics).
Potpourri/Dried
flowers
Many of the oils, chemicals and desiccants used in making Potpourri
and Dried Flowers are toxic to cats. Seek veterinarian attention if
your cat has gotten into potpourri oils, chewed on dried flowers or
dried Potpourri.
Metals
(lead, zinc batteries and pennies)
Lead
Usually kittens and young cats or cats with Pica from ingesting or
chewing on items painted with old paint (lead based paints were phased
out in the 70’s), plumbing, solder, insecticides, batteries
and linoleum
Symptoms:
Vomiting, abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhea, and megaesophagus. Acute
poisoning result in Central Nervous System signs, such as convulsions,
hysteria, ataxia, tremors, and blindness.
Treatment:
Removing the lead source, and limiting further gastrointestinal absorption.
Magnesium or sodium sulfate can be used to precipitate lead in the
intestine and pass through, or chelation therapy may be used with
calcium disodium . Oral D-penicillamine is also a chelating agent
often used after calcium disodium. Both to be used only for 1-2 weeks.
Zinc
Rresult
from the ingestion of zinc nuts(transportation crates), or from ingesting
pennies minted after 1983, diaper rash products, rubber products,
cosmetics, batteries, soaps, and printing inks
Symptoms:
hemolysis, regenerative anemia, or renal failure. Acute zinc oxide
toxicity results in
severe vomiting, central nervous system depression, and lethargy.
Treatment:
Removing the source through surgery, supportive therapy, and chelation
therapy with calcium disodium.
Button
Batteries
When lodged in the throat, causes esophageal erosions with the release
of sodium and/or potassium hydroxides. Generally within 12 hours of
ingestion. Also, the batteries may contain mercuric oxide, lithium,
cadmium, and zinc. Some danger remains if the battery is swallowed
and not quickly passed through the stomach and GI tract or becomes
a butterfly valve in the intestines.
Symptoms:
Central nervous system stimulation, weight loss, anorexia, and ataxia.
Treatment:
Batteries lodged in the esophagus should be removed endoscopically,
and should be followed by chelation therapy. Batteries in the stomach
or intestinal area should be monitored by the veterinarian or removed
surgically.
In the Garage
Gas/kerosene/other solvents
If inhaled or aspirated can cause breathing difficulties and pneumonia.
If ingested, which is unlikely unless they try to groom it from their
fur, result in vomiting which can cause esophageal burning, tremors,
convulsions, coma and death by respiratory failure. IF in the eyes
can cause intense burning and might damage the cornea.
Treatment:
DO NOT induce vomiting, instead offer water, fruit juice or soda pop
at the rate of one ounce per 6 pounds of body weight. IF inhaled or
aspirated be prepared to administer artificial breathing, if in eyes
flush with copious amounts of water. If on fur, was off immediately
or prevent cat from grooming itself. Seek veterinarian attention.
Knowing the type of petroleum product is very helpful for treatment.
Oils and Lubricants
The
cat is not likely at all to ingest this freely, however, if the cat
has these adhered to the fur they will attempt to groom themselves
to be free of this sticky stuff and consequently ingest it or splash
in eyes.
Symptoms
and Treatment: I could find no data on symptoms or treatment.
I would treat as in Gas/Kerosene/Solvents above.
Antifreeze
(ethylene glycol)
There are new animal friendly antifreeze substitutes on the market
now. While a little more spendy than the ethylene glycol, it is safe
for pets. Ethylene Glycol is sweet in odor and taste thus luring pets
to sample it. One teaspoon of ethylene glycol can kill a cat.
Symptoms:
Appear suddenly. Vomiting, drunken gait, stupor, weakness and coma.
Death can occur in 12-36 hours. Kidney damage and kidney failure are
high risks even if the cat recovers from the toxin.
Treatment:
If you have witnessed or suspect ingestion, vomit the cat immediately
and proceed to a veterinarian at once.
Veterinarian
Treatment: IV alcohol is the antidote. (this is special medical
grain alcohol and supportive intensive care to reduce the injury to
the kidneys.
In
the Yard and Garden
Pesticides
Arsenic
Usually found in conjunction with metaldehyde (see below) in slug
and snail baits. It may also appear in ant poison, weed killers and
other insecticides. It is also an impurity found in many other chemicals.
Symptoms:
Often death occurs before signs and symptoms present. Symptoms if
present are, thirst, drooling, vomiting, staggering, intense abdominal
pain, diarrhea and paralysis followed by death. You might note the
cats breath smells like garlic.
Treatment:
Induce vomiting, seek veterinarian care asap, a antidote is available.
Metaldehyde
As noted above, it is often found in conjunction with arsenic. It
is used in rat, snail and slug baits.
Symptoms:
Excitetablity, drooling and/or slobbering, uncoordinated gait, muscle
tremors and the inability to stand after a few hours (weakness) after
ingestion.
Treatment:
Immediately vomit the cat and seek veterinarian care. There is no
antidote. Treatment is the same as for strychnine poisoning.
Organophosphates
and carbamates
Products used for flea and other parasitic control as well as in some
de-wormers and garden sprays. Improper application and usage of these
products can result in a toxic dose.
Symptoms:
Mouth twitching, foaming, collapse, convulsions, and coma. Other signs
are diarrhea, asthmatic breathing, staggering gait, muscle twitching
and jerking.
Treatment:
If you suspect the cat is reacting after treatment with organphosphates,
bath the cat with soap and water to remove as much of the residue
as possible, keep the cat calm and seek veterinarian treatment.
Caution
on Combining Insecticides
Some wormers contain similar chemicals as in topical external parasite
treatments and control. If the cat has just been wormed DO NOT treat
for other insect infestations for a least one-week. The same is true
if you have recently used insecticides for external parasites, DO
NOT worm the cat for at least one week after topical treatment of
insecticides.
Rodenticides
Strychnine
A chemical used in rat mouse and mole and coyote bait. Typically in
pellet form dyed purple, green or red.
Symptoms:
Can occur within couple hours of ingestion. Agitation, excitability
and apprehension. Which are followed by, intense painful tetanic seizures.
These seizures are notable different from epileptic type seizures.
The cat will seize with head thrown back towards the spine, so much
so that often they cannot breath. The back will also seize and appear
concave. The fore and hind limbs will be rigid. They will appear abnormally
stretched forward and back. The seizures generally last approximately
one minute. Even the slightest sensory stimulation will cause the
cat to seize. This is VERY diagnostic. Other symptoms may include,
champing (grinding or clicking jaws/teeth together rapidly), drooling,
uncoordinated muscle spasms, and leg paddling (like dogs do when they
dream).
Treatment:
If you are aware the cat has ingested strychnine induce vomiting immediately.
If tetanic seizures have begin DO NOT induce vomiting. Wrap the cat
up in a thick blanket or coat and proceed immediately to a veterinarian.
Avoid as much sensory stimulation as possible while in transient.
Veterinarian
treatment: There is no antidote. Treatment consists of relieving
the tetanic seizures with anesthesia or other narcotics, and supportive
care.
Sodium
Fluoroacetate (1080)
Another rat poison usually mixed with cereals and grains. This poison
is so toxic cats can become poisoned from eating a dead rat that has
dined on 1080.
Symptoms:
Onset of symptoms is quite sudden, beginning with vomiting, followed
by agitation, straining to urinate and/or defecate, staggering gait
and typical convulsions/seizures and collapse. The seizures are not
triggered by sensory stimuli.
Treatment:
Same as for Strychnine poisoning, however there is an antidote.
Phosphorous
Also used in rat and roach poison. Can also be found in fireworks,
flares, matches and matchboxes.
Symptoms:
Cat may have garlic odor on its breath. Vomiting and diarrhea followed
by an interval of no symptoms, and then rebout of vomiting and diarrhea
with abdominal pain, convulsions and coma.
Treatment:
Treat as for strychnine. There is no antidote.
Zinc
Phosphate
Another ingredient in rat poison.
Symptoms:
Central nervous system depression, labored breathing, vomiting (with
blood), general weakness, convulsions and death.
Treatment:
Treat as with strychnine. There is no antidote.
Anticoagulants
These rodenticides cause the blood not to clot and can cause hemorrhaging
and bleeding both internally, under the skin and from the orifices
(urinary, bowel, mouth, nose and gums). It blocks the synthesis of
vitamin K, which is necessary for clotting the blood.
Warfarin
and Pindone
Requires repeat exposures (biological magnification) for lethal effect.
D-Con,
Mouse Prufe II, Havoc and Talan
Require a single dose to achieve toxic effect. Even eating rodents
whom have died of this poison can cause lethal effect. This product
may also stay in the cats system for up to one month after exposure
and may need medical treatment throughout this period.
Symptoms:
There are rarely any symptoms to be observed until the cat begins
to bleed, as ascribed above.
Treatment:
You need to determine which type of anticoagulant has been ingested.
Induce vomiting if you have suspected ingestion and seek veterinarian
care.
Veterinarian
Treatment: Consists of Vitamin K shot and then oral tablets
for up to one month.
Cholecalciferol
(Rampage)
Another popular cereal bait for rodents containing Vitamin D3.
Symptoms:
A sudden rise in blood calcium levels, leading to vomiting,
diarrhea, seizures, heart and kidney failure.
Treatment:
Lowering the serum calcium with veterinarian management.
Bromethalin
(Assault, Vengeance and Velsicol)
Just one or two tablespoons is toxic to cats.
Symptoms:
Agitation, staggering, muscle tremors, high fever, stupor
and seizures. Death is very common once symptoms appear.
Treatment:
Induce vomiting and seek immediate veterinarian care.
Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers such as fish meal and liquid fish fertilizers
generally are not toxic but can cause gastrointestinal distress, vomiting
and diarrhea.
Other
Types of Fertilizers
Uric acid, urea, ammonium sulfate and nitrate.
Symptoms:
These are very caustic causing burns in the mouth, throat, stomach
and intestines. As well as contact burns to the skin and eyes.
Treatment:
Do Not induce vomiting, wash affected skin, eye or mouth area and
immediately seek veterinarian attention. You might wish to offer milk
to dilute and coat stomach.
Outdoor
Plants
Many Plants are toxic to cats. Some plants are all toxic, some only
leaves, roots stems or fruit/flowers. There are too many to list in
this article so please refer to these links.
http://www.kingstownecatclinic.com/poisonous_plants.htm
http://maxshouse.com/Toxic_Plants%20_Index.htm
Food
Poisoning
Open compost pits/bins or improperly covered trash cans. See “In
the Home under Food Poisoning for symptoms and treatment.
Accidents can and will happen, BUT the best prevention in all cases,
is to assure your cat cannot come in contact with these chemicals
or poisons. Secure all chemicals in a storage area that is not accessible
to your cat. Use lockable boxes, cupboards or use baby latches on
cupboards and drawers. When using chemicals be sure your cat is not
in the same room. Secure trash in a container with a tight fitting
lid. PROMPTLY clean up any chemical spills that may occur. Do not
use pesticides, herbicides or rodentcides if your cat is allowed outdoors
and do not use these products indoors if your cat can access them.
Do not keep toxic plants in the home or around the yard if you cannot
keep your cat from them. Keep medicines in a locked drawer or cubbard
–do not assume its safe in its bottle-- your cat can chew it
open. Another hazard is to you if the medicine is time critical and
you can’t find it cause kitty has batted it about and under
something.s
Resources:
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxcat/toxcat.html
http://maxshouse.com/Toxic_Plants%20_Index.htm
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