Not providing the right first aid for poisoning is often worth the life of a beloved pet. And although cats themselves are rather cautious animals, they are still not immune from such a scourge as poisoning. Especially if it's a small kitten.
What to do if the cat is poisoned, and how to understand the first symptoms, we’ll talk now, or you can also read here: .
Poisoning in cats: causes and symptoms
Most often, cats are poisoned through no fault of their own. The source of penetration of a toxic substance or poison can be an eaten poisoned mouse, poor-quality food, household waste, and items left unattended by a person. It is not necessary that the cat himself taste some chemical or detergent. It is enough for him to walk on a dirty or wet floor and then instinctively lick his paws. Therefore, often poisoning in a cat occurs through the fault of the owner himself.
But, regardless of the reason, it is important not only to know the first signs of malaise, but also to be able to provide first aid to the animal. What is poisoning? This is not a disease, but a whole set of symptoms showing the destructive effect of a toxic substance on an animal's body. Often, these signs are various factors of purification. That is, first of all, vomiting and diarrhea occur.
However, do not forget that the poisoning in a cat is not only food, but also local, for example, when the poison penetrated through the skin or mucous membrane. In such cases, neither vomiting nor diarrhea occurs, but some local symptoms appear. For example, a section of the skin swells, soft tissues swell, convulsions and so on appear. If the toxin or poison is absorbed into the body, then the destruction of all organ systems and the whole organism is already occurring. In such cases, there is often a fatal outcome.
How to help and save a cat?
So, the first action of the owner for any type of poisoning is to stop the poisoning effect of the poison on the body. The second point of first aid will be cleaning the body of toxins and subsequent therapy. Consider the basic procedure.
1. Find the source of poisoning to understand its nature and degree of damage (spoiled food, poisoned mouse, household chemicals, pills, poisonous plants, etc.).
2. Depending on the type of poisoning, try to immediately cleanse the cat's body. For this, gastric lavage, laxatives and emetics, diuretics are used. It is also often necessary to use antidotes and antidotes.
3. Subsequent symptomatic treatment is necessary depending on the degree of poisoning and the condition of the animal.
As a rule, the first two points can be performed by the owner of the cat, but in any case, the animal must be shown to the veterinarian. It will help determine the degree of damage to the body, prescribe subsequent treatment. If you managed to cleanse the body of the poison yourself, then in any case, the veterinarian will help you choose a diet and strengthening products for the cat. After all, do not forget that even minor poisoning is a tremendous stress for all systems. Therefore, in order to quickly put the pet on its feet, additional strengthening drugs are needed.