Posioning

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Posioning

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Our pets can be poisoned in 3 main ways:

• by mouth
• through the skin
• inhalation through the lungs

Cats are more selective in their eating habits than dogs so they don't tend to scavenge as much. However as cats are fastidious groomers, a very common cause of poisoning is when they walk on something toxic and then try to lick it off. This way they not only ingest the poison but if it is caustic they can burn their tongue. Outdoor cats also travel a long way and can easily contaminate their fur climbing over fences or getting trapped in garden sheds or garages. They can also inhale toxic chemicals through their lungs.

Different types of poisons

Medication

A common form of poisoning is when owners give human medication to their cats. Painkillers like aspirin, brufen or paracetamol are all extremely toxic to cats and should never be given as they can cause bleeding of the gut. Paracetemol is particularly deadly for cats as it also causes liver failure. If someone has given your cat one of these tablets seek veterinary advice promptly.

Never ever give your cat home medication as cats are very sensitive to a lot of human drugs. Always consult your vet for advice.

Chemicals

If you have been cleaning the house with a strong disinfectant there is a risk your cat could walk across a counter or floor and pick up the chemical on its paws. It will then try to lick this off and burn its tongue. This will lead to ulceration of the tongue - your cat may be unable to eat and salivate due to the pain.

Strong bleach could cause these signs but any disinfectant containing phenol is very toxic to cats so it would be advisable not to use these in the house. Creosote used as wood preservative is also very toxic, so if you are treating the garden fence keep your cat safely locked indoors and warn your neighbours too.

Treating poison on the skin

• do not apply any paint stripper or solvent to your cat's coat as it may be equally toxic
• wipe off as much as possible with a clean cloth
• clip away the fur if necessary
• clean the coat in mild baby shampoo or soapy water
• if the chemical is sticky (eg, tar or engine oil) apply warm vegetable oil or Swarfega to help remove it
• wrap the cat up in a clean towel so it can't lick its coat
• seek veterinary attention promptly

Pesticides

Cats don't tend to eat rat and mice poison like dogs, but if your cat is a hunter it could have eaten a mouse already ill with rat poison. This could cause internal haemorrhaging. Greedy cats can also occasionally eat slug bait from the garden, which is equally poisonous. Seek veterinary attention immediately.

Poisonous plants

Many cats love to eat grass to aid their digestion. Indoor cats may crave some greenery and chew at houseplants. Do not keep plants like poinsettias, dumb cane (dieffenbachia) or Christmas cherry if you have an indoor cat. Safe grass for your cat to chew on is now available from pet shops instead.

Poisonous animals

Cats could occasionally get a bee or wasp sting. These tend not to be serious but bathing the wound may help.

• bee sting - bathe with solution of bicarbonate of soda
• wasp stings - bathe with vinegar

Some curious cats can play with toads in the garden and get poisoned by the toxin secreted from the skin. This can cause your cat to salivate a lot and paw at its face in distress. The toxins are relatively harmless and the signs will wear off quite quickly but washing out your cat's mouth with warm water will speed recovery.

Flea products

Sometimes an owner can overdose their cat if they use too much flea product - for example spraying your cat for fleas when it is already wearing a flea collar. Kittens are so tiny that it is very easy to use too much flea powder on them and cause an overdose. The signs of an overdose are frothing at the mouth, muscle twitching, and excitement and vomiting.

Flea products containing organophosphates or carbamates are most likely to cause a reaction. Nowadays safer flea products are available which target the flea only and have no effect on mammals.

Safe flea control:

• always follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully
• always use a product licensed for kittens
• use only one product type at a time unless under veterinary instructions
• newer flea products target the insect and have no effect on mammals so are much safer. Discuss the best method of flea control with your vet

Signs of poisoning

These will obviously vary according to which poison you cat has eaten or been in contact with, but seek veterinary attention immediately if your cat shows any of the following symptoms:

• vomiting and diarrhoea
• frothing at the mouth
• convulsions
• muscle twitching and lack of co-ordination
• coma

What to do

• if you catch your pet in the act of eating something then quick action can make it bring it back up. Unless the poison is corrosive like bleach, you can give your pet a dose of mustard, salty water or washing soda crystals to make it sick. Only induce vomiting if it is less than 1 hour after ingestion
  Warning - This can be tricky to do with a cat so don't waste a lot of time trying this. It is far better to get it to the vet sooner rather than later.
• if your pet has eaten something strange always phone your vet for advice or take it in for a check up. Your vet will be able to ring a poison helpline and find out exactly what treatment is required. If you know what your pet has eaten or come in contact with it is very important you bring the package with you so that your vet can identify the active ingredient and give the correct treatment

Prevention is best

Treat your pet the same way you would handle a curious toddler. Pet proof your house and garage by locking any toxic chemicals away. Use only products safe for pets in your garden.

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