Cat Poisoning is probably the furthest thing from our minds each Spring as we witness the promise of a fresh start, a renewal, a time of celebration in many ways. Flowers starting to bloom and shrubs, trees, and grass bursting with new green growth remind us of a new beginning.
Many people will celebrate during this time. For Christians, Easter calls for rejoicing. For everyone, this time of new growth brings cause for celebration. Many of us enjoy this time of year by adorning our homes with flowers and plants.
Take caution, however, if you are a cat owner. Some of the most common plants are leading causes of cat poisoning.
One of the toxic plants of all is the Easter lily. Other species such as the Tiger lily, rubrum lily, Japanese show lily, Asiatic hybrid lily, some species of day lilies, and possibly other species of the family Liliaceae are also highly toxic to cats. Ingestion of these plants leads to kidney damage. All parts of the plant are considered toxic, and it takes less than one leaf to cause toxic reactions in your cat.
Within the first two to six hours of lily ingestion, a cat may begin to vomit, experience loss of appetite and appear depressed. The first signs to watch for are these intestinal signs. Unfortunately, these signs may go away, causing you to think everything is fine, only to return within twelve to eighteen hours as kidney damage begins. Treatment consists of inducing vomiting to remove plant material as soon as possible, and administration of activated charcoal and of intravenous fluids. Obviously, if you suspect your cat has ingested part of a lily plant, regardless of how small the amount, rushing to your vet is absolutely essential. Postponing treatment for more than eighteen hours can result in kidney failure, and death. Cat Poisoning requires prompt and aggressive veterinary care. With prompt treatment, full recovery is possible. If treatment is delayed, permanent kidney damage will occur to varying degrees. Cats that are not diagnosed and/or treated at all will usually die within three to seven days.
DON'T let this happen to your cat! The best bet is to keep ALL plants away from cats. Lily toxicity is only one of many plant toxicities that occur in cats. The best plan is PREVENTION.
Celebrating All Seasons in Safe Ways,
Dr. Neely
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