What to do if a cat is poisoned. What to do if the cat is poisoned. Classic symptoms of poisoning in cats

Due to their curious nature and obsession with cleanliness, cats are more likely to get poisoned than other animals. Other factors that predispose cats to poisoning are small body size and disease behavior. Poisoned, cats hide, so you can’t immediately notice that something is wrong. In addition, cats are specialized carnivores, lacking the liver enzymes that help break down certain chemicals.

The most common poisons that cats commonly encounter are insecticides, human medicines, poisonous plants, rodent control products, and human food. The cause of poisoning may be the ingress of household chemicals - varnish, chlorine-containing preparations on the skin. An animal can be poisoned only by inhaling these substances. Often pets taste antifreeze and windshield washer fluid.

Symptoms of intoxication depend on the substance that provoked the poisoning. First aid measures are provided depending on the time elapsed since the use of the poison. If you do not know what and when the cat was poisoned, it is best to immediately call a veterinarian, as incorrect first aid will only aggravate the situation.

How can a cat get poisoned?

Cats are very sensitive to various poisons and can get poisoned in several ways:

directly eating a toxic substance or eating poisoned prey (for example, a rodent);
ingesting poison when grooming contaminated fur;
through the absorption of certain toxins by the skin;
inhaling toxic substances;
through animal bites.

Less common are poisonings with substances produced by the animal's own body as a result of metabolic disorders. These substances are called endogenous poisons and are produced in violation of the pancreas, liver, kidneys, the action of bacteria, viruses, and even a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract.

Signs of pet poisoning

Symptoms of intoxication in a cat are very different and depend on the specific poison. The most common of these are vomiting and diarrhea. In other cases, they may also include neurological, gastrointestinal, respiratory symptoms, signs of liver or kidney failure, and skin changes. The following signs may indicate intoxication of the animal:

vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes with blood;
trembling, uncoordinated movements, seizures, irritability, depression, or coma;
coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing;
inflammation, swelling (especially of the tongue);
jaundice;
increased fluid intake, loss of appetite and weight loss;
excessive salivation;
rash.

Some toxins can cause any combination of the above symptoms because they act on more than one body system. It is important to remember that although most cases of poisoning cause acute symptoms, chronic poisoning can also occur, which is often more difficult to recognize and treat. In some cases, the symptoms of poisoning may not appear long after the poison has been ingested, or may not appear at all.

Poisoning in kittens is accompanied by the same symptoms as in adult cats. Attempts to treat a kitten at home can end in failure, as a kitten's fragile body is more susceptible to toxins and much less able to resist them. If a kitten is poisoned, you must immediately take him to the clinic. Treatment of a kitten requires strict adherence to the doctor's instructions and dosages of drugs.

Signs of rat poisoning

In our country, the most common cause of poisoning in domestic cats are various rodenticides (rat poisons). These products contain different active substances, so their effect on the animal's body is different. The most common cause of poisoning is anticoagulant rodenticides. The mechanism of their toxic action lies in the suppression of the production of vitamin K1, which is responsible for normal blood clotting. After ingestion, the animal may feel normal for 3-5 days, until the reserves of vitamin K1 are exhausted. After that, the symptoms of rat poison poisoning begin to appear:

heavy bleeding even with minor injuries;
internal bleeding;
extensive hematomas;
black chair;
nosebleeds;
blood in the urine;
frequent heartbeat;
shortness of breath;
lethargy;
pallor of mucous membranes and skin;
fainting;
swelling in the joints;
abdominal pain;
shiver.

The toxicity of rodenticides increases with accumulation if they are ingested several times. A cat can get poisoned both by eating the bait and by poisoned rodents.

What to do if there are signs of poisoning

If you notice any of these symptoms and suspect that your cat may have consumed something harmful, it is very important to take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. If this happened over the weekend or at night, try to find the number of a veterinarian who will advise you by phone. Depending on the symptoms and the cause of the poisoning, he will advise how to properly so as not to aggravate the condition of the animal.

What to do first:

Isolate the cat from the source of poison and other animals.
If the fur or paws are stained with poison, try to prevent the cat from licking. Contaminated areas should be washed with shampoo.
Find out what led to the poisoning and report it to the veterinarian.

If there is no opportunity to consult with a veterinarian, you will have to provide first aid yourself:

If you know for sure that no more than 3 hours have passed since the toxin entered the body, you can. Do this in one of the following ways:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with water (1:1);
- pour boiled water into the mouth until vomiting appears;
- pour the saline solution into the mouth.
Vomiting should not be caused if the following symptoms are present - severe weakness, unconsciousness, convulsions, inability to swallow, slowing down of the heart when eating tranquilizers, ingestion of petroleum products, acids, alkalis.
If more than 3 hours have passed since the poison was eaten, it makes no sense to induce vomiting, since most of it has already passed into the blood or intestines. In addition, vomiting will cause dehydration, which will worsen the cat's well-being. To remove poison from the intestines use:
- sorbent is poured into the mouth with a syringe without a needle;
- laxative - vaseline oil - in the same way every 2-3 hours.
After 3 hours, give a laxative: 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil or saline laxatives.
The intestines can be cleansed with an enema: 5-10 ml of saline is injected into the rectum.

If after first aid the animal becomes better, he will still need to be examined by a veterinarian, since the effects of toxins on the body cause severe diseases of the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system. In addition, poisoning in cats is accompanied by severe intoxication, even if most of the poison has been removed from the body. In case of intoxication, special treatment will be required in the clinic or at home as prescribed by the veterinarian.

First aid for rodenticide poisoning

What to do if the cat ate a poisoned mouse or there is a suspicion of eating rat poison, but there are no symptoms of poisoning:

In one of the ways described above, induce vomiting several times until clear water begins to come out.
Pour activated charcoal diluted with water: 1 tablet per 1 kg of body weight 4 times a day. Other sorbents can be used instead.
Give a laxative.
Twice to do tests of the coagulation system in the hospital - 24-36 hours and 96 hours after the alleged poisoning. If the clotting time has increased, start intensive therapy.

It should be noted that the treatment of cats with rat poisoning is quite complicated and expensive. Vitamin K1 is not produced in our country and it must be bought abroad. Therefore, it is much easier to prevent poisoning a pet with rat poison than to treat it later.

Cat poisoning treatment

Only a veterinarian can prescribe the correct treatment for a poisoned cat, since the use of different methods and drugs for therapy depends on the type and dose of the toxin and the time that has elapsed since the onset of poisoning.

Treatment begins with the removal of unabsorbed poisons and / or prevention of their further absorption in the body. For this, the cat is given a gastric lavage with a probe, an enema, adsorbents, diuretics are used. Maintenance therapy is to relieve the symptoms of poisoning. They prescribe drugs for convulsions and dehydration, droppers, anti-inflammatory, heart drugs, antihistamines, drugs to restore mucous membranes and others. Specific antidotes are used to neutralize specific poisons.

In case of poisoning with rat poison, a blood or plasma transfusion is done. After that, injections of vitamin K1 are prescribed. The duration of treatment is 3-4 weeks. Treatment is stopped when normal blood clotting parameters are reached. In addition, depending on the results of the blood test, symptomatic therapy is carried out. Contrical, antibiotics, hepatoprotectors and other drugs may be prescribed.

Diet during the recovery period

For a cat to fully recover from poisoning, it is important to carefully monitor its condition during the rehabilitation period (7–10 days). Treatment of a cat with poisoning at home includes a strict diet. The following recommendations must be observed:

After elimination of the acute condition, the animal is not given food for up to 24 hours. This will remove the maximum amount of toxins from the body.
Depending on the condition, on the second day, the cat can be given low-fat broth or rice water.
In the first 2-3 days, the animal is given means that envelop the intestines. To do this, use starch mucus (starch with boiling water 1:5).
Dairy products are excluded from the diet for 3-4 days for all types of poisoning. During this period, milk is given only on the recommendation of a doctor.
For a quick recovery, vitamin and tonic therapy is prescribed.

How to protect pets from poisoning

The best way to eliminate the possibility of poisoning not only cats, but also other pets is to prevent contact with hazardous substances:

Keep all medicines in cabinets that are out of your cat's reach. If you drop a tablet on the floor, be sure to pick it up.
Always follow the directions for using flea and tick medications. Do not use products designed for dogs.
Some "human foods" are toxic to cats (eg chocolate, tea). If you are unsure if your food is safe for your cat, don't give it to your cat, instead feed your cat commercial cat food.
Make sure rodenticides are stored on shelves where pets can't reach them. Be very careful when using such drugs, as a cat can be fatally poisoned by eating a poisoned rodent.
Choose plants for the home that will be safe for the cat if she decides to taste them. Make sure that plants that are poisonous to pets are kept in a place where animals cannot reach them.
Store all chemicals in hard to reach places.
Take care of the presence of a veterinary first aid kit with sorbents and write down the number of the veterinarian.

Poisoning in a cat is a frequent, unpleasant for the owner and dangerous for the pet phenomenon. The owner is the first person who can help the animal in an emergency. He is responsible for the health of the cat, so he must know how to competently provide emergency care by detecting symptoms of intoxication in cats. Often this is what saves the life of a pet in case of poisoning.

Poisoning in cats is common. It can lead to serious complications and pathological processes in the animal's body. In this article, we looked at the causes and symptoms of poisoning in cats, first aid methods, and home treatment components.

Causes of cat poisoning

Poisoning in a cat can develop for many reasons. Despite the fact that these animals are very demanding on food, they often refuse to eat foods that they do not like by smell, they can still get poisoned. Below is a list of the main causes of feline poisoning.

Eating low-quality and expired products. It can be meat or dairy products, fish, dry or wet food.
Rat poison poisoning is one of the most dangerous feline conditions. An animal can get sick by eating the poison itself or a rodent poisoned by it.
Intoxication with various chemicals or detergents. For example, cats are very fond of the smell of bleach and can drink its solution.
Treating an animal with flea drops often leads to acute poisoning.
Theobromine poisoning. This substance is toxic and deadly to cats, but it is not dangerous to humans. Theobromine is found in dark and milk chocolate. Poisoning them can develop in cats with a sweet tooth.
Intoxication with poisonous gases or cigarette smoke. The cat's body reacts sharply to polluted air. When they are in a smoky or smoky room, they develop acute poisoning.
Drug poisoning can develop in an animal that found medicines left by a person and ate them. There are also frequent cases of poisoning in cats caused by the attempts of the owners to treat them on their own. The feline dose of drugs is significantly different from the human.
Plant poisoning can be fatal to an animal. Some indoor flowers are poisonous to cats. Also dangerous to the animal are pesticides and chemicals that process plants.

Symptoms and signs of cat poisoning

Signs of poisoning in cats develop within 4-6 hours after eating poor-quality or poisonous food. The severity of the animal's condition and the course of the disease directly depend on the substance that caused the disease. Below are the main symptoms that cat poisoning can manifest.

Lethargy and general weakness. The animal lies, walks around the house a little, refuses to play, sleeps a lot. Such symptoms develop due to severe intoxication.
Anorexia is a complete lack of appetite.
Vomiting of food or bile. Also in the vomit you can see balls of downed wool.
Nausea. The cat may not complain to you about nausea, but you can notice this symptom by looking closely at him. An animal that is sick often licks its nose and smacks its lips.
Salivation is a symptom that can mean nausea, poisoning with drugs or poisons.
Meowing that occurs with pain syndrome. The head or stomach may hurt.
Impaired coordination and staggering of the pet are signs of intoxication, damage to the central nervous system.
The appearance of the third century is a sign of the presence of intoxication in the cat's body.
Sneezing, dry cough, watery eyes are symptoms that can develop in an animal when poisoned by toxic gas or smoke.
An increase in body temperature by several degrees can develop with an intestinal infection and a strong intoxication process in the body. In case of poisoning with certain poisons and chemicals, the temperature may, on the contrary, fall.
Chair disorder. There may be a weakening or the development of profuse and repeated diarrhea. In the feces, streaks of blood and mucus can be seen.
Rapid heartbeat and breathing are signs of dehydration and intoxication syndrome. Also, the pulse accelerates with hyperthermia.
Seizures in all muscle groups, resembling epilepsy, develop when poisoned by poisons or chemicals. During an attack, the cat loses consciousness, his head is thrown back and his paws are stretched forward. Convulsions may be accompanied by the passage of urine and feces.
Violation of consciousness. In severe conditions, the cat can boot into a deep coma.

Please note that in kittens, poisoning occurs in a more severe form. Their symptoms may be more pronounced and grow faster, worsening the condition of the pet.

First aid for a cat with food poisoning

Save and cure a cat from poisoning at home is possible only with the help of a veterinarian. Therefore, when the first clinical signs of intoxication appear, you should seek help from a veterinary clinic. The doctor will examine the animal and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

If you don’t have a clinic nearby, or if it’s closed at this time of the day, you won’t be able to take the animal to the doctor in the next few hours, start providing first aid yourself. With its help, you can remove intoxication and help the pet live to see a doctor. Below is an algorithm for providing first aid to a poisoned cat:

Do a gastric lavage. To do this, inject 15-20 ml of plain water into the animal's mouth. This can be done with a syringe (without a needle) with a volume of 10-20 ml. Then you should press the cat on the root of the tongue with your finger.
Make a cleansing enema with room temperature water. For cats, children's enemas-pears with a volume of 50 ml are used.
Give your pet a sorbent. If you do not have a veterinary drug of this group at home, you can use ordinary activated charcoal. Grind half a tablet of coal and dilute in 5 ml of plain water. Fill the cat with the resulting medication solution through the mouth with a syringe without a needle.
Give the cat a drink. If he does not want to drink on his own, pour 5 ml of liquid into his mouth every 15 minutes. This can be done with a syringe without a needle.
Don't let your pet eat. You can feed a cat after poisoning only after consulting a veterinarian who will write out the diet in detail.

Please note that it is dangerous to self-medicate poisoning in an animal. Even if you notice an improvement in his condition after the first aid you provided, you need to show your pet to the doctor.

Treatment for cat poisoning

The veterinarian can treat the cat from a hospital or schedule a course of therapy and let him go home. Animals that are in serious condition, an intravenous catheter is installed and a course of droppers is prescribed. You will need to bring your cat to the clinic for an IV at the time prescribed by the doctor, or you can leave the cat in the clinic for a few days for inpatient treatment.

In addition to droppers, treatment for cat poisoning consists of:

diet food. In case of poisoning, you can use special premium foods that are designed specifically for this condition, or prepare food for the animal yourself. In case of poisoning, the cat can be fed with boiled oatmeal and ground cooked low-fat chicken meat;
enzymes - drugs that improve digestion;
antibacterial drugs that are prescribed for intestinal infections;
antispasmodics;
sorbents;
plentiful drink.

In order to help the cat and make an accurate diagnosis, a number of examinations may be required:

general blood analysis;
general urine analysis;
blood chemistry;
ultrasound examination of internal organs.

Poisoning in a cat can occur for many reasons. It can be manifested by disorders of the digestive and nervous systems, general weakness of the pet, lack of appetite. In severe intoxication, fever, convulsions, impaired consciousness may occur. Treatment of poisoning in cats is carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian. First aid can be provided by the owner of the animal. To make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, a doctor may prescribe tests and ultrasound.

An animal is a creature to which you become attached forever and so strongly that you will never be the same again. Even the most mischievous animal, if it is yours, is a favorite animal. And it is all the more difficult if this little helpless creature is sick and tormented. Most often, household or food poisoning occurs in an animal.

If your favorite, so cheerful, playful and affectionate, behaves atypically, then take a closer look at her. The reason is that she simply does not have the mood, or, alas, your cat was poisoned.

Cats, by nature, are cautious animals, and it is quite difficult for them to accidentally poison themselves. The inattention or negligence of the owners is to blame for the fact that the animal was poisoned.

There is a chance to help a cat in case of poisoning at home, but in case of acute symptoms, do not hesitate and immediately run to the veterinarian.

The veterinarian must treat the pet

Causes of poisoning

First of all, in order not to harm, you need to find out what can cause poisoning in cats.

Analyze the general condition of the cat, what physiological processes can occur in her - a change of teeth in kittens, estrus, pregnancy.
If you have recently vaccinated an animal, check the shelf life of the drug. Is the dose calculated correctly?
Know when was the last deworming treatment.
Was there a flea remedy?
Has the domestic cat been in contact with other animals?
Whether the diet has changed, new food or products have been introduced.
Was there contact with poisonous insects, substances, animals?
Take a closer look at your house plants, can they be unsuitable for an animal?
Could the cat have been poisoned by drugs, chemicals, powdered substances, a broken thermometer, or other consequences of household use.

How does cat poisoning manifest?

Signs of poisoning in cats are determined by the nature of the behavior of the animal:

Intoxication of the animal's body due to poisoning, there may also be poisoning from drugs that should help.
Incorrect dosage of the drug can be harmful, you need to be extremely careful before using them.
There are different ways of penetration of poison into the body of cats - gastrointestinal (through the mouth), respiratory (inhalation), percutaneous (skin and mucous).
According to the duration of the action of poisoning, there are hyperacute, acute and chronic.
Activity of the cat before poisoning. A decrease in immunity can be caused by stress - a change of residence, owner, diet, environment, transportation. Physiological processes (pregnancy, estrus, feeding kittens) also lead to a decrease in the general background of the body.

Symptoms of poisoning in cats depend on the effect of the poison on the respiratory tract, skin, and mucous membranes. Signs manifest themselves in a variety of ways and depend on the general condition and work of all organs of the animal.

But general symptoms can be identified by other methods, pay attention to such signs as:

lack of appetite;
decreased activity, or, excessive arousal;
severe vomiting;
labored breathing;
diarrhea;
lack of coordination.
breathing problems;
pupil dilation or constriction;
salivation;
decrease in body temperature;
thirst;
convulsions.

If your pet has several of these signs, immediately contact the veterinary clinic. An accurate description of how and what caused the poisoning can help the veterinarian diagnose and provide the best treatment for poisoning in cats. Analyze what could have led to such consequences.

First aid for an animal in case of poisoning

And yet, if the cat is suddenly poisoned, what can you do at home, what first aid can be provided to the cat before the veterinarian arrives?

To begin with, do not worry, do not fuss, act clearly, carefully and measuredly. Understand that your animal in this case depends only on you and your actions. Give him all your attention, patience and love. Then the cat will recover faster.
How to treat if the substance has got on the skin or fur? Urgently clean the contaminated area with sunflower oil, then wash with soap and warm water, do not use shampoos or special products, you can only do more harm by adding chemical elements.
Poison poisoning in cats requires urgent gastric lavage. The first rule for intoxication is to remove toxic substances from the animal's body. Most often, cats are poisoned with isoniazid and tubazid, using this drug as a poison. In this case, you can’t do without washing, the count goes on for minutes.
If the cat has swallowed acid, alkali, or solvent, to prevent the poison from moving further up the esophagus, do not induce vomiting. Immediately it is necessary to give the cat a drink of neutralizers of drugs. For alkali poisoning, dilute apple cider vinegar or lemon juice with water. If it's acid, beat egg white with water. There is no need to induce vomiting, after three hours of poisoning - the poison has either been absorbed into the bloodstream or entered the intestines.
If poisoning has occurred by other food methods, then vomiting must be induced immediately. Enterosgel will perfectly help against mineral or organic poison - half a teaspoon. 3-4 kg, 2 times a day.
If the cat is suddenly poisoned by food, expired cat food, or canned cat food. mix crushed activated charcoal with water and give a quarter tablet 3 times a day for the weight of an average cat. A solution with potassium permanganate can also help well - pour a little powder with warm water to make a bright crimson water, drink in small doses.

With food poisoning in cats, you need to give to drink in large quantities so that there is no dehydration.

How to administer the drug to a poisoned cat

In general, it is not difficult to give medicine on your own, but the animal can be not only weak, but also aggressive, be careful and calm.

You can give medicine with a spoon - raise your head, move your cheek at the corner of your mouth and pour the contents. You can drink from a syringe without a needle, pipette or small syringe. It is better to swaddle the cat and water it in a horizontal position. Make sure that in this case the head does not throw back.

When treating with pills, open your mouth and put a pill on your tongue, and the swallowing reflex will do everything for you. It is better to crush the tablet to a state of powder and put it in your mouth, then the effect of the medicine will be faster.

If the cat is weak, unconscious, or its swallowing function is impaired, wait for the veterinarian, do not give drugs on your own.

After all the actions taken, take the cat to the veterinary clinic, where you need to tell exactly about the signs of poisoning that were noticed, suggest what the reason is, and also mention the first aid that was provided to the animal. Do not hide information from the doctor, any mentioned trifle can save your pet's life, improve treatment and post-rehabilitation period. Talk to your doctor about special diets, medications, general condition, and possible effects of illness.

Cat food after poisoning

After active treatment, the question arises of what to feed the cat after poisoning. The cat will be lethargic or vice versa too active. No matter how the animal behaves, at first it is not healthy, so it’s not worth giving everything at once.

On the first day after poisoning, they give a lot of water and no food to cleanse the stomach.. You can give honey in small doses to support the body if the cat does not have allergies.

When you see that the cat is better, then for the next couple of days, give food only in liquid form, without injuring the esophagus. You can give:

semolina;
rice porridge (without milk);
boiled eggs;
spoiled milk;
curdled milk;
kefir;
chicken fillet meat.

It is important to remember that the animal needs to take only clean, lean food, which will facilitate the work of the liver and will not overload the stomach.

The animal should be gradually transferred to the previous diet and nutrition scheme, adding pieces of the usual food and food to the set of products listed above.

Prevention of poisoning

Every home contains potentially dangerous substances for any animal. Cats are hunters by nature, they need to sniff, lick, check everything, so protect your pet to the maximum from the possibility of trying, which a cat should not at all. Stick to just a couple of recommendations, and minimize the chance of a curious pet being poisoned:

Store medicines in tablets, powders, jars and flasks in drawers and cabinets with locks where the animal will definitely not be able to get. If a tablet is dropped, discard it immediately. If a couple of drops spill, wipe it off.
Do not leave certain foods in the public domain - alcohol, coffee, chocolate, yeast, smoked meats, fatty canned food, etc.
The trash can should have a lid, or better yet, be out of reach.
Some types of plants (eg violets, ficuses, lily of the valley) can be dangerous for your pet, make sure you take all the necessary precautions.
Fertilizers can also contain pesticides, we recommend keeping them out of the reach of a cat. If your cat likes to nibble on plants, plant healthy plants (oats, lettuce, parsley) or flowers (thornless cacti, tradescantia).
Use only proven medicines for cats with good expiration dates, suitable for age, body weight. Analogues of drugs for other animals will not work.
Household chemicals, cleaning products, insect poison should be kept under lock and key.

You can't feed your cat chocolate

Be careful when buying flea collars, pet shampoos. Despite the fact that these products are intended for animals, they can cause allergies or poisoning.

Although this does not apply directly to poisoning, ventilate the room periodically. The olfactory system of animals is more delicate than the human one, cats may not perceive some smells that are harsh for them.

Conclusion

Each owner of a pet is responsible for its life and health. It is important to understand that when a new family member appears in the house, then everything about him needs to be clarified thoroughly, security measures and caution should be taken. Draw the attention of other family members that you need to be more careful and carefully monitor the environment. Especially in the first stages of getting used to a cat in a new place of residence, she will climb into different places with curiosity and taste everything she can reach. Force majeure circumstances cannot be foreseen, but it is realistic to minimize the damage.

Do not neglect preventive examinations at the veterinarian, they can warn of many diseases.

Take care of your pet and love him, they are so helpless in difficult times, and always hope for your help and understanding.

Sometimes, cats are very reminiscent of little kids who love to jump, jump, play. Before that, everything is interesting to them that they strive to stick their nose everywhere, and their predatory initial instinct often becomes the reason that, having climbed all sorts of “unnecessary” places, animals accidentally lick or eat very dangerous substances. A cat can get poisoned by any toxic substance that the owner, through negligence, leaves in places accessible to pets.

Cats can get severe poisoning from chemicals in special fertilizers for plants, and if they eat poisonous flowers on the balcony, they will taste cleaning or washing, disinfecting home care products. Even a cat can easily be poisoned by medications that cause severe toxic poisoning in an animal.

There are such severe cases when a poisoned cat requires immediate medical intervention experienced veterinarian. A poisoned cat feels very bad, every hour it gets worse and worse, and if measures are not taken in time, the animal may die. Therefore, it is very important to provide the cat with the necessary medical, feasible assistance in the very first minutes of poisoning.

If the owner knows how to provide first aid in case of poisoning of his pet, it will be much easier for the veterinarian to put the animal on its feet. Be that as it may, the owner should not panic, but act quickly and wisely.

Causes of poisoning in cats

The main cause of poisoning in cats in most cases is carelessly left drugs in an open form, right under the pet's nose. It is impossible to forget scattered medicines on tables or other pieces of furniture. It is also unacceptable to keep poisonous flowers in the house where the cat lives. Or put detergents, chemicals in an accessible place for her. All this should be kept away from the eyes of the animal, in a well closed and corked place. Remember that there are such toxic agents that have a very attractive smell, to which the animal attracts.

Symptoms of poisoning in a cat

There are many, many signs of pet poisoning. It all depends on what kind of poison the cat inadvertently swallowed, whether it causes severe intoxication and after what period of time it begins to have a toxic effect on the body. Basically, in case of poisoning in an animal, the following clinical picture is observed:

strong salivation,
pupils are dilated,
body trembles with chills,
the animal is very frightened, runs around the house,
irritability or, conversely, depression,
breathes heavily, vomits and swears often.

In especially severe cases, seizures and convulsions are observed.

If your pet has all of these signs, take him to the vet immediately. Do not forget to tell the doctor the truth about what poisoned the cat, because only then can he prescribe proper treatment.

How to treat a cat with poisoning

Initially, the poison should be removed from the cat's body. If the cat did not eat the poison, but it got on her coat, you need to quickly clean the skin with warm water and soap. Do not invent any other detergents or disinfectants, otherwise you will only make it worse, because you do not know how shampoos or detergents act on the poison that has penetrated the cat's skin.

If the cat has licked or swallowed the poisonous substance, try to make it regurgitate. Give your pet a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide, which is sure to induce vomiting. But do not forget that if the cat is very ill, she is lethargic, lies down and reacts poorly, then the poison has begun to act, and in this case it is impossible to induce vomiting. It can also paralyze the larynx and swallowing functions in a cat, therefore, with general weakness, the cat will not even be able to open its mouth.

What is important to do in the first minutes of poisoning is to rinse the cat's stomach with pre-boiled, warm water. The veterinarian performs gastric intubation (lavage) mainly with a tube. Until a clear liquid comes out of the stomach, until then the cat will be washed. Now you yourself understand that you alone cannot cope with such manipulation. But, if the veterinarian is far away, you can try using a large syringe to pour the liquid through the cat's mouth. So, at least, the body will be gradually cleansed of the poison.

The cat's stomach is washed with water along with a sorbent (you can add Sorbex or activated charcoal to the water). You can also buy a powdered drug Atoxil in a pharmacy, and administer it to a cat with a syringe. After all these procedures, make the pet drink freshly brewed tea or some milk.

After you yourself were able to provide first aid to your poisoned cat, try not to disturb the animal once again. Be sure to deliver the pet to the clinic, because the toxin is such a toxic substance that can again hurt the very important organs of the animal, which will lead to various diseases of the liver, central nervous system organs, and kidneys.

It is important! If a cat is bitten by a poisonous snake or spider during a walk, the animal should be taken to a veterinary clinic within a few hours to be given an antidote. Otherwise, the animal will not survive.

Cat food for poisoning

After your cat has been poisoned, and has gone through all the torment of deep cleansing and washing, she should not be given anything to eat. A starvation diet is all you need to feed a cat throughout the day. At the same time, she needs to drink a lot so that the body does not suffer from dehydration. To make the animal feel better, it is allowed to drip a little honey under the tongue. After the day of poisoning, the next 3 days, a purely liquid diet is recommended. Veterinarians advise cook porridge from elm bark: it is elm that is an excellent stimulant of the digestive system.

During the week, along with liquid cereals, gradually include chicken meat, low-fat kefir in the diet (cow's milk is not recommended). If the cat was poisoned by rat poison - dairy and fatty foods are contraindicated so as not to overload the liver. And do not forget that drinking plenty of water will help to finally remove toxins.

Even if the cat feels better after a week or two, still visit the veterinarian to check again if there are any residues of toxic substances in the body, and if the poison has had a strong effect on the animal's organs.

Prevention from poisoning

If you have a cat in your home, always make sure that:

the house did not contain poisonous flowers or plants;
medical preparations (tablets, suspensions, medicines) were not scattered around the house and were open;
flea drops were applied to the animal according to the attached instructions. What is intended for dogs should not be used for cats, it is very dangerous;
there was no fatty food, smoked meats, canned fish on the dining table, since, having eaten them in large quantities, the cat can also get poisoned;
the trash can was always closed tightly and with a lid. Don't give cats an extra reason to climb into them and accidentally ingest a poisonous or chemical substance.
medicines, disinfectants, detergents, antiseptics were stored where the animal cannot reach!

Take care of your beloved cats!