Symptoms and signs
Poisoning in cats is rare. Animals have good olfactory qualities, so they rarely eat a toxic substance. However, intoxication cannot be ruled out. The signs and symptoms of poisoning are not difficult to recognize; any owner should know them.
Signs:
- The animal exhibits weakness, apathy, and lacks the desire to play;
- Signs of indigestion appear - diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing;
- Salivation increases, appetite disappears;
- Violation of the respiratory process, heavy inhalations and exhalations;
- Increased pulse, heartbeat;
- Temperature increase;
- Presence of convulsive manifestations;
Any owner notices that the animal’s behavior has changed. When a cat is poisoned, it becomes apathetic or the pet becomes agitated.
Intoxication in cats can be food or non-food. In the first case, a toxic substance enters the animal’s body. Non-food poisoning is diagnosed upon contact with any substance - carbon monoxide, toxic liquids. In such a case, other organs suffer, not the esophagus.
First aid for cat poisoning
If signs of poisoning appear in a cat, the animal is taken to the veterinarian. If this cannot be done immediately, then the injured animal is given first aid. It includes a set of actions aimed at cleansing the body of toxins and restoring the functioning of the body.
What to do:
- In case of poisoning, gastric lavage is done. Water is injected into the cat's throat through a syringe, and the root of the tongue is pressed, provoking vomiting. It is permissible to use potassium permanganate only with the permission of a specialist. When self-treating poisoning, incorrect calculation of the concentration of the substance is possible.
- After washing the animal’s stomach, you can give it sorbents to drink. Such medications will speed up the removal of toxins from the body in case of poisoning. To do this, use a polysorbate solution - a quarter of a teaspoon is diluted with a glass of water. Two small spoons of solution are enough for the animal.
- You can use activated carbon - one tablet per tablespoon of water, give the mixture to the cat to drink.
- Using saline laxatives for poisoning will speed up the process of removing toxins from the intestines.
- Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
After the first steps, it is recommended to show the animal to doctors to avoid the development of negative symptoms. The greatest danger is poisoning from rat poison. In case of intoxication with this substance, help is needed immediately to avoid the death of the pet.
In veterinary clinics, the furry patient is administered various medications. Self-treatment of poisoning using unknown medications is not allowed. Only an experienced doctor knows how much and what is permissible to use in a particular case.
Useful video
To learn how to help a cat with various types of poisoning, watch this video:
This article was prompted by a recent incident. My Chupacabra really loves grass, a special green grass that is sold in pet stores. And then one day I bought him the wrong grass.
Although, it would seem, how can a pet store sell some kind of different herb!
In the evening, Chupacabra was gnawing grass with pleasure, and at night strange sounds were heard. And in the morning I discovered several strange puddles on the floor - Chupacabra was vomiting at night.
But since we are all accustomed to the fact that cats spit up their fur from time to time, especially if they are fluffy, I did not pay attention to this. And she went to work. And in the evening I found several more caustic puddles on the floor and a completely exhausted Chupacabra lying on the bed like a rag. The cat was clearly poisoned. But what could he have poisoned himself with?
Naturally, the newly acquired weed went into the trash, and the Chupacabra still had to be treated for several days. No one could have expected such a situation from simple cat grass.
What to feed a cat after poisoning
How to feed a cat?
An adult animal can go without food for a full day without harm to health; kittens need to eat after twelve hours. On the first day after poisoning with rat poison and other substances, it is not recommended to give the cat any food; it is important to ensure constant access to clean water.
On the second day it is allowed to give separate foods.
- Rice water or gruel from well-cooked cereals;
- Liquid food for weakened animals;
- During hospitalization, various nutrient solutions are administered;
At home, you need to carefully monitor the animal’s reaction to any food. After vomiting and diarrhea stop, the cat can be given low-fat broth. It is not recommended to mix natural and purchased food, as such a combination leads to irritation of the intestinal walls.
Be sure to praise the animal for every bite eaten to stimulate appetite. After poisoning, many cats lose weight. If the pet was well-fed and lost a little weight, then it is not recommended to fatten it. For a weakened cat, various foods are introduced into the diet.
What you can do:
- Buckwheat and rice groats. They are used to cook porridge and grind it into puree before serving.
- Homemade low-fat cottage cheese, provided that the cat tolerates lactose normally.
- Pieces of unsalted cheese in small portions are used to stimulate appetite.
- You can give your cat baby food made from meat, without sugar.
Dry food is not given to cats during the first days of recovery. Hard granules irritate the inflamed mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. It is better to replace such food with pates or wet food.
If a cat does not eat, it is not recommended to force it to eat. However, if you have a long-term lack of appetite, it is better to go to the hospital.
What to feed a kitten if it is poisoned? In babies, the digestive tract is not fully formed, so negative reactions develop faster. In case of intoxication of kittens, the same procedures are carried out, feeding is carried out in the same way, but in smaller dosages. It is better to include more fermented milk products and less meat in your diet.
General information about poisoning and rehabilitation of cats
After the prescribed rinsing or other treatment, it is necessary to take care of a detoxification diet, proper care of the pet and proper drinking regimen.
Poisoning is divided into two types:
- Non-food. The animal has been in direct or indirect contact with toxic objects, substances contaminated by rodents or poisonous insects.
- Food.
In the first case, diet does not always help - the nature and degree of poisoning are important. If toxic fumes or liquids are not removed in time, the pet may die.
For non-food poisoning, the best methods are to maintain blood circulation, oxygenate the body, and use antidotes.
In the second option, in case of severe poisoning, the animal is prescribed a starvation diet. Food that gets into the digestive tract will upset the balance and begin to irritate the mucous membranes (scratch and damage them), creating new problems.
When diarrhea occurs, the intestines become sensitive. While the cat is in this position, the likelihood of infection of the damaged areas is high. Bleeding may occur and infections may occur. If a pet accidentally swallows a strong poison, a burning sensation begins inside the stomach: toxic substances corrode the walls of the organ.
Various negative effects are observed:
If diarrhea is observed, it is necessary to take care to eliminate dehydration of the cat's body. With diarrhea and severe vomiting, sharp contractions of various organs occur, as a result of which the membranes (mucous membranes) of the digestive tract work like pumps, beginning to draw fluid from the esophagus and the body for rapid cleansing. With severe dehydration, the salt balance is disrupted, which leads to inhibition of metabolic processes.
Drinking regimen during intoxication
During the recovery period after poisoning, it is important to control the cat’s drinking regime. Water relieves symptoms of dehydration and helps normalize fluid and salt balance. The pet must have free access to a container of clean water.
It is allowed to place bowls with liquid throughout the room so that a weakened animal is able to reach them. The owner is advised to keep an eye on the cat; excessive drinking often provokes vomiting.
If the cat is not able to drink on its own, then water is given using a syringe or syringe. It is allowed to use different decoctions of medicinal herbs, but first you must consult a medical professional.
What medications after poisoning
In case of poisoning, medications can be given to the cat after examination by a veterinarian. Self-administration of medications can lead to unpleasant consequences. The hospital prescribes various drugs that restore the functioning of organs.
Purpose:
- To restore digestive functions, the cat is given enzymes;
- Antispasmodics help get rid of painful sensations;
- Sorbents promote rapid cleansing of toxic substances;
- If an infection develops in the intestines, antibacterial medications are prescribed;
- Medicinal solutions are administered through a dropper when the cat is weakened;
- To replenish the water-salt balance, the pet is prescribed saline solutions;
Before prescribing medications, a thorough examination is carried out using various methods - ultrasound, blood and urine tests, blood biochemistry.
Video: poisoning in a cat - treatment methods
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Proper nutrition
A speedy recovery for a pet after intoxication is impossible without following a proper diet. What to feed a cat after poisoning is a concern for every responsible owner. As a rule, after an illness the animal loses its appetite for a long time. However, nutritional issues should be given special attention.
Due to the fact that many toxic substances are highly soluble in fats, at first you should not give the animal food containing them. Only vegetable fats are allowed in small quantities. This issue is especially relevant when phosphorus-containing substances (usually pesticides) and rat poison enter the body. For the same reason, you should not feed your animal milk. In addition, fatty foods will slow down the recovery of the liver, which suffers from any poisoning of the body.
Therapeutic food for a cat after poisoning should be gentle on the digestive system. Experienced breeders recommend feeding your pet during the recovery period 3 - 4 times a day for 1.5 - 2 months after poisoning.
Congee
If intoxication has occurred due to eating poor quality food, then after a daily fasting diet the animal should be given rice water. It is prepared in water.
After 2 - 3 days, the pet can be offered viscous porridge based on rolled oats and pureed buckwheat. You should not feed a sick cat pearl barley, semolina, or corn porridge.
Gradually, you can add boiled vegetables (carrots, broccoli, pumpkin) to your diet. After 5-7 days, if the pet’s condition is satisfactory, lean poultry and rabbit meat can be introduced into the diet. The meat should be given boiled, in small pieces or crushed in a blender until pureed. Fatty fish, table food, and canned food are strictly contraindicated.
You can give your animal low-fat cottage cheese. You should abstain from milk, cheese, and sour cream for the first 2 to 3 days. It is useful to give low-fat kefir if there is no digestive upset.
If before poisoning the animal was fed with ready-made formulas, during the recovery period it is recommended to give super-premium medicinal food, for example, Hills I/D for food poisoning, Hills L/D for liver problems due to toxic substances or K/D, if the kidneys were damaged by poisoning.
In the Royal Canin food line, you can use the Gastro Intestinal composition, which ensures maximum digestive safety, as well as Hepatic food, which supports liver regeneration. A veterinarian will help you choose one or another medicinal food, taking into account the type and form of poisoning.
Cat food recommended for consumption after poisoning
Owners often note that after poisoning the cat does not eat. After severe intoxication, this phenomenon is often observed. If there is no appetite for 2-3 days, you should not force feed the animal, as this may provoke vomiting. If the general condition of the sick pet is weakened, it should be regularly taken to the veterinary clinic for the administration of intravenous nutrient solutions. For this purpose, infusions of 40% glucose solution and saline are used.
