Do you have a poisoned cat? Despite the advances in animal respect, there are still many people who spend part of their time poisoning both cats and dogs. The latter are the most frequently victims of these human beings, since there are many felines that live abroad.
Whether you live in a city, a town or in the countryside, you must take a series of measures so that your friend and partner can enjoy their life every year that they touch, since in addition to the dangers that can be found outside at home, it must also be protected within the home. So that, What do I have to do if my cat has been poisoned?
Symptoms of poisoning in cats
I still remember as if it were yesterday to one of the cats of the colony that I am taking care of. I had just come to the garden and she was crouching, with half-open mouth trying breathe. She was not moving from the site, and it was evident that she had been poisoned. When picking her up to put her in the carrier, I noticed how her heart had raced. Without a doubt, the situation was dire.
The vet ran a series of tests on him, and discovered that he had a pulmonary edema. In other words, he had more fluid than necessary in his lungs that prevented him from breathing normally. It was still missing to know what had caused that, but in the end we concluded that it had been the pipette for cats that had been put in the day before. Yes, flea and tick pipettes can also cause serious problems for animals. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
In addition to the symptoms mentioned (shortness of breath and weakness), we will know that our friend has been poisoned if he loses consciousness, has the Stomach swollen, convulses, coughs and / or sneezes, vomits, cat drools a lot and / or have diarrhea. You will also feel depressed, not wanting to do anything ... except take a breath.. In very serious cases, you are likely to find a quiet, isolated place, where you can rest without being disturbed by anyone.
First aid from a poisoned cat
In the event that we suspect that our friend has been poisoned at home we can do a number of things to try to make you feel better.
The first and most important thing is to hold him firmly (but gently) in your arms and take it to a well-lit and well-ventilated room. This will make it easier for us to detect any other symptoms that have been overlooked while the furry feels fresh air. We will offer you water so that you can eliminate the remains through urine, but if you do not drink we will not force you. It is never necessary to give milk, because we would favor the absorption of the poison, thus worsening the situation.
Now,, we will call the vet to find out how to proceed. In the event that we recommend inducing vomiting, we will give you 2 small tablespoons of salted water or hydrogen peroxide. If the poison is dust, we will clean it thoroughly with a brush.
Lastly, whenever possible, we will try to detect the source of the poisoning. If we succeed, fine, we will remove it immediately to prevent other animals from being poisoned; However, If there is no way to find it, or if the cat is really bad with breathing problems, we will not waste time looking for it.
Now the most important thing is take him to the vet to examine him and give him the appropriate treatment according to his case.
Treatment of a poisoned cat
Treatment will vary depending on the cause of the poisoning and the condition of the cat. In general, vomiting is induced to try to get the cat to expel it. But in serious cases you have to do a stomach wash.
How to protect it at home
At home there are many dangers that we must protect it from, and they are the following:
- Medicines for humans: It is true that cats, in general, will not self-medicate, unless curiosity leads them to do so, but for their own safety we must keep our medications stored in a place where they cannot be reached.
- Cleaning products: including those used to clean dishes and dishes, can seriously damage your body. Likewise, we must clean the furniture well so that it is completely dry, without foam.
- Shampoo, soap and gel: You always have to keep the boats closed to avoid taking risks, even if they are natural.
- Toxic cat food: like chocolate, garlic or onion, they should never be given to our friend.
- Plants: felines are very curious animals by nature, so they do not hesitate to play with home plants. However, there are some that you should avoid having, such as Poinsettia, Anthurium, Croton, Narcissus, Adam's Rib or Difenbachia.
And abroad?
Well, on the outside it is more difficult to protect it. But yes that we can avoid more than one scare if we keep it in the garden and do not use chemicals. Only in this way can he enjoy nature without putting his life in danger.
In the event that you like to go out for a walk around the neighborhood, the situation is complicated. Some use insecticides that they spray on plants that cats can later use to clean their stomachs. What's more, They can also poison food that they leave in the sight of any animal. Although this is beginning to be considered - finally - as mistreatment of animals in many countries, there is still a long way to go. So, what to do?
From my own experience I will tell you that the best thing in these cases is to make sure that the cat has eaten before leaving. It does not guarantee anything, but if they are freshly eaten it is difficult for them to eat something out. Just in case, it is worth putting a necklace with an identification plate which will bear your phone number, and of course the microchip.
As we can see, cats can find dangers both outside and inside the home. Whenever we suspect that you are not feeling well, we will take you to the specialist as soon as possible.