Poisoning in cats: symptoms, causes, treatment. What to do if you poison a cat with rat poison

We are responsible for those who have tamed ... So says all the well-known statement. Therefore, all pets should not only love and pamper, but also take care of them when they are sick or experiencing, for example, a difficult period associated with the move. This article will tell you about the signs of poisoning in cats, and how you can help your pets in this situation.

What it is?

First, let's talk about the nature of poisoning in cats. Symptoms can tell what caused the disease. For example, a pet may be poisoned by low-quality food, and he will have one condition, but may also eat, say, a rat poison. Then the animal will behave completely differently, although the nature of the poisoning will be similar - in the body of the cat will get some harmful or worse - a poisonous substance. Often, poisoning with various substances that can wander in the air, it is also worth remembering, wondering where the cat could have poisoned. Also, situations are possible where the toxin is produced by the body itself. "How can it be?" - there is a logical question. The reason lies in the malfunctioning, for example, of the kidneys or pancreas, when there is a metabolic disorder.

The first group of poisonings

So, how are cats poisoned? Symptoms, as noted above, will differ in different situations. For example, if an animal is poisoned by phosphorus, arsenic or copper, it is observed: vomiting, severe salivation, a very difficult swallowing reflex, cramps are possible. How to help the animal in this situation? First of all, you must wash your stomach. This can be done with a rather weak solution of potassium permanganate. Also need to enter activated carbon and sorbents. In addition, veterinarians prescribe injections of drugs that contain caffeine.

The second group

Organophosphate substances also cause poisoning in cats. Symptoms will be as follows: salivation, cough, diarrhea. Perhaps severe agitation, convulsions, high blood pressure and even CNS paralysis. In such a situation, the animal must wash the stomach with a weak solution of baking soda, and also give soothing and heart medications.

The third group - medicines

There are cases when a pet is poisoned with medicines. In this case, characteristic signs are drowsiness, lethargy, weakness of the cat, vomiting is possible, as well as narrowing of the pupils. To cope with such a problem, the animal needs to rinse the stomach with a solution of activated charcoal, and also to enter inside the enveloping agents.

The fourth group is food

How to recognize food poisoning? The cat has vomiting or diarrhea, arrhythmia and rapid heart rate, and body temperature can also increase. It is better to wash the stomach with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is also worth noting that a similar set of symptoms can be in an animal if it is poisoned by carbon monoxide. However, in this case, drowsiness, weakness, dyspnoea and convulsions can still be observed in parallel.

The fifth group is acids

There are also acid poisoning in cats. Symptoms in this situation will be quite serious, because the digestive system is affected, as well as the airways. Lips and tongue can swell, breathing will be difficult, difficult, digestion processes will be disturbed. In such a situation, first of all, it is necessary to water the cat with a soda solution, which must neutralize the action of the acid in the shortest possible time. You need to call a vet.

Sixth group - rat poisons

And now let's talk about such a problem as poisoning with rat poison in cats. Most often, owners of cats living in the private sector face this situation. The matter is that cats are very interesting animals, and they can easily try everything they like by sight or by smell. And if there is an old woman in the neighborhood who does not like animals, which, moreover, also trembles over her garden, which unfit creatures are able (in her words) to trample down and over and destroy all crops, then ... In general, the cat is doomed. Moreover, cats can be poisoned by rat poison through the eaten rodent, who took poison before his death. Since this group of poisonings is most often found in animals, we will consider it in more detail.

Symptoms of poisoning with rat poison

How does this poison work for rodents? Getting inside, it slowly corrodes the walls of the stomach and prevents the body from producing vitamin K, which is responsible for blood clotting. Thus, an unfortunate animal that has used such a poison, slowly dies from multiple internal bleeding. Most people will not see this. Symptoms in this situation will be as follows: refusal to eat, fever, shortness of breath, neurological problems, convulsions and convulsions are also possible. There may also be bloody diarrhea or bloody vomiting - so the blood can go out.

What should I do first?

Rat poison can contain a variety of chemical elements, depending on what will be the different course of the disease. So, signs can be observed from two days to several weeks. However, if the poison is very strong, the animal is surely endangered by death, therefore it is undesirable to engage in amateur activity. Noticing the first signs of poisoning in cats, it is necessary to contact the veterinary clinic as soon as possible. If there is no such possibility, and you are sure that the animal has been poisoned by rat poison, try to help the poor fellow on his own. So, first you need to try to cause the cat to vomit - you must make sure that his stomach is emptied and got rid of the harmful substance. This can be helped by a plentiful drink or a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide (at the rate of 1 tsp for 5 kg of animal weight). You can try to put pressure on the root of the cat's tongue, it also helps sometimes. Further, it is necessary to give the pet an adsorbent (even if it was not possible to induce vomiting) - activated charcoal in the calculation of 1 tablet per 1 kg of weight or such a preparation as Enterosgel. It is also good to introduce a vitamin K cat, which will help blood to begin to curl up. Veterinarians prescribe droppers, medications that help cope with certain symptoms, in some clinics they can offer to make a blood transfusion (after all, the antidote begins to act only 6-12 hours after its introduction).

What to do in general cases when poisoning an animal?

There are also general recommendations that suggest what to do in case of intoxication. First of all, it is necessary to find out what exactly the pet has poisoned. This can significantly shorten the time of the correct diagnosis and even save the life of a pet. For this, it is necessary to pay special attention to the signs of poisoning in cats. Treatment, as a rule, consists of the following: washing the stomach or causing vomiting, taking adsorbents and seeing a veterinarian who will prescribe restorative therapy. However, in the situation with poisoning with acids, it is strictly forbidden to vomit, this can worsen the situation. But most people do not even know about it. Therefore, the best option is to visit a specialist. Be sure to follow all the doctor's recommendations regarding the treatment of the pet, following the instructions clearly. If there is a risk that the toxic substance could get on the animal's fur or skin, it is best to redeem the cat properly. Also after the appointment of treatment, the pet needs to be put on a hungry diet for 12 hours, while not forgetting about the abundant drink.

To summarize, note: pay attention to the behavior of your pet. In time, noticing the symptoms of poisoning in cats and correctly identifying the cause of the pathology, you can provide the animal with timely help.