Keeping our cats safe from poisons: A list of dangerous household toxins commonly ingested by cats

Top feline toxicities:  Here is a list released by the ASPCA poison control

1.      Pyrethrins- Flea medications

2.      Glo jewelry

3.      Lillies

4.      Liquid potpourri

5.      Chewable NSAIDs

6.      Tylenol- Acetaminophen

7.      Anti freeze- Ethylene glycol

 

Below is a short description of common signs associated with the toxicosis and the vital initial treatment. (Always go immediately to a veterinary hospital for any toxic ingestion)

1. Pyrethrins- Used in common flea products such as shampoo, topical flea preventatives, foggers, yard products which are all sold over the counter.  Hartz and Etofenprox are popular products that are very dangerous and never should be used. Flea medications labeled for dogs are very concentrated and cats can ingest them when they groom themselves acerbating the signs and danger. 

 

Signs: The most common clinical signs of toxicosis include vomiting, tremors, and seizures.

 

Treatment: Offering the cat milk or liquid from a can of tuna fish will often help to remove the product from the tongue and signs should resolve. Cats should be bathed immediately with liquid dishwashing soap (e.g. Dawn).

 

2.  "Glo-Jewelry"- These glow-in-the-dark items are popular novelties sold at fairs, carnivals, etc.  They include glo-sticks and glow-in-the-dark jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, etc).  The solution is very bitter and can cause profuse salivation and foaming, with occasional retching and/or vomiting.

Signs: generally self-limiting and should resolve once the cat gets the taste of the product out of its mouth.

Treatment: Offer milk or canned tuna.  You can place the cat in a dark room to visualize and remove the chemical to make sure they do not ingest it during grooming.

3.  Lilies- Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum), tiger lilies (Lilium tigrinum), rubrum or Japanese showy lilies (Lilium speciosum and Lilium lancifolium), and various day lilies (Hemerocallis species) have been incriminated in causing acute kidney failure and death in cats.

Signs: vomiting, inability to urinate

Treatment: This is an emergency and your pet should be taken immediately to the veterinarian. Delaying treatment beyond 18 hours frequently results in death or euthanasia due to severe renal failure.

4. Liquid potpourri- Cats often ingest these after small amounts are spilled and they groom it off their coats. 

Signs: severe skin lesions, intense pain, vomiting, high fevers and ulceration of the mouth.

Treatment:  Tell your veterinarian that ASPCA does NOT recommending inducing vomiting or give activated charcoal due to the corrosive nature of the chemical.  Pain meds and stomach protectants are the normal treatment.

5. Chewable NSAIDs –These are given to dogs for pain control and they come in beef flavored tablets.  The most common products are Rimadyl, Metacam and deramaxx.  Cats find these tablets very enticing and often consume them.   

Signs: Dark stools, dark colored vomit, "coffee ground" appearance is common,  

Treatment: May induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide, but intravenous fluids diuresis is required to protect the kidneys. 

6. Acetaminophen- Also known as “Tylenol” is very toxic to the liver of cats.  Pet owners often give them to cats for pain control. 

Signs: Vomiting, nausea,

Treatment: Vomiting induced by your veterinarian and intra venous fluids.

7. Ethylene glycol -most commonly found in radiator antifreeze, but ethylene glycol is also present in high concentrations in many brake fluids and household paints. This causes kidney failure as soon 4-6 hours if not treated. Extremely toxic only requires a couple licks.

 

Signs: Inability to urinate due to kidney failure, painful abdomen, vomiting.

Treatment: A reversal drug can be given by your local veterinarian. Treatment needs to be started within 6 hours to seriously decrease the chances of death.