What constitutes as an emergency? When to call the vet and when to seek emergency care. Common emergencies, injuries, and illnesses.
Accidental Use of Canine Flea Topical Medications
Some Dog Flea Meds Are Toxic To Cats
Cats and dogs have different physiologies and these products affect them differently. Canine formulations of flea and tick preventive
products can be lethal for cats, so you can not use the same medication on your dog as your cat — unless it has been specifically formulated for both species. If in doubt, don’t do it.
PetMD has a lot of great information, but use at your own discretion. If in doubt, don’t do it until you can be certain.
Excerpt:
Both cats and dogs need to be given preventive products for fleas and ticks. If you are the head of a household where cats and dogs reside together, you may be tempted to get one flea and tick treatment for both. It’s important that you do your research carefully before using any product on your pets that has not been explicitly prescribed for them, and this is particularly the case with flea and tick treatments. Cats and dogs have different physiologies and these products affect them differently. Canine formulations of flea and tick preventive products can be lethal for cats, so you can not use the same medication on your dog as your cat — unless it has been specifically formulated for both species.
There are some products that come in both a cat and dog version, but you still need to read the labels carefully to make sure you are using a product that is labeled for use in cats before applying it on, or giving it to your cat. Cats can become very ill and even die from an incorrect application of dog flea and tick treatment. Link Here.
Poisoning
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
What should I do if I suspect my cat has drunk antifreeze?
If you do suspect your cat has drunk antifreeze then you should call your vet or, out of hours, your nearest Vets Now emergency clinic, straight away. If the cat is treated immediately after exposure it has a far greater chance of survival. Your cat will …Read More…
Antifreeze Poisoning in Cats (Ethylene Glycol)
Symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mild to severe depression
- Wobbly, uncoordinated or drunken-appearing gait (ataxia) or movement and knuckling
- Twitching muscles
- Short, rapid movements of the eyeball
- Head tremors
- Decreased withdrawal reflexes and righting ability
- Increased urination and increased thirst (polyuria and polydipsia)
Ethylene Glycol Poisoning in Cats
Ethylene glycol toxicity is a potentially fatal condition that results from the ingestion of substances containing ethylene glycol, an organic compound commonly seen in antifreeze. (In addition to being found in the car’s engines to prevent freezing and overheating, it is used in hydraulic brake fluids.) Cats usually come into contact with antifreeze when it leaks from a car’s engine onto the ground, when it is spilled onto the ground while being added to a car’s engine, or when the container is left uncapped.
Antifreeze is recognizable by its bright green coloring and “sweet” taste. Although it leaves a repulsive aftertaste, by then it may be too late. Even small amounts can be fatally toxic to the body’s organs, including the brain, kidneys and liver. Read More…
Flea and Tick Medicine Poisoning in Cats (Usually using Dog Flea Prevention Meds on a Cat)
You may notice the symptoms of flea and tick medicine poisoning within the first six hours of exposure. Take your cat to the veterinarian if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Unrest
- Tremors
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Incoordination
- Hypothermia
- Hyperthermia
- Dyspnea (labored breathing)
- Seizures
Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/flea-tick-medicine-poisoning
Human or Veterinary Drugs – One tablet of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) can be fatal to your cat. (Acetamenaphin)
- Cats also seem to like the taste of certain antidepressants, which may contain an alluring smell or flavor in the coating.
- Keep all medications and prescriptions in a secure location.
- With any accidental medication ingestion, seeking immediate veterinary care is imperative.
What NSAIDs are approved in the United States?
The following list is an example of NSAIDs available:
- aspirin
- celecoxib (Celebrex)
- diclofenac (Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren-XR, Zipsor, Zorvolex)
- diflunisal (Dolobid – discontinued brand)
- etodolac (Lodine – discontinued brand)
- ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
- indomethacin (Indocin)
- ketoprofen (Active-Ketoprofen [Orudis – discontinued brand])
- ketorolac (Toradol – discontinued brand)
- nabumetone (Relafen – discontinued brand)
- naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn)
- oxaprozin (Daypro)
- piroxicam (Feldene)
- salsalate (Disalsate [Amigesic – discontinued brand])
- sulindac (Clinoril – discontinued brand)
- tolmetin (Tolectin – discontinued brand)
Choking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZujMy-bFy0
Wikihow
https://www.wikihow.com/Save-a-Choking-Cat
Be aware that true life-threatening choking in cats is very rare, largely because cats are usually discriminating about what they eat. This means they are at less risk of chewing or eating things that may cause choking than dogs, or even children. True choking occurs when an object blocks the back of the throat, especially the windpipe, and it is relatively unusual for a cat to eat something large enough to get stuck. However, cats sometimes make choking-type sounds when they are not actually choking. Because of this, the first thing you need to know is how to identify actual choking and then learn how respond if the cat is actually choking.[1]
If your cat is unconscious and not breathing, or breathing with great difficulty, do the following:
- Open the mouth and pull the tongue forward. If you see a foreign object, try to grab it with your finger or tweezers.
- If that doesn’t work, try the Heimlich maneuver: Lay the cat on his side. Put one hand along his back.
Urinary Issues
Blood in the urine
Bloody and discolored urine is a common reason cat guardians seek veterinary help. It’s incredibly upsetting to see drops of blood in a litter box, on bedding, or on the floor. Sometimes you can’t see the blood until the urine is examined with a microscope or detected on urinalysis.
Blood in Cat Urine: What Does it Mean?
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Bloody and discolored urine is a common reason cat guardians seek veterinary help. It’s incredibly upsetting to see drops of blood in a litter box, on bedding, or on the floor. Sometimes you can’t see the blood until the urine is examined with a microscope or detected on urinalysis.
What Causes Lower Urinary Tract Problems in Cats?
- Stones, crystals or debris accumulation in the bladder or urethra
- Urethral plug (accumulation of debris from urine)
- Bladder inflammation or infection
- Incontinence from excessive water drinking or weak bladder
- Injury to, or tumor in, the urinary tract
- Stress
- Spinal cord problems
- Congenital abnormality
https://wagwalking.com/cat/condition/insufficient-urine-production#advice-container
Healthy cats typically produce approximately one to two grams of urine for every kilogram of their body weight per hour. … Cats with oliguria typically produce less than 0.25 milliliters of urine per kilogram per hour. Anuria refers to a medical condition where essentially no urine is being produced by the body.
Infrequent Urination in Cats
By Quentin Coleman
Your cat will lick his groin frequently if he has urinary trouble.
Keeping track of your kitty’s bathroom habits probably isn’t part of your daily routine, but it should be. Difficulty urinating is a dangerous and common problem for cats. You won’t even notice it until it’s a serious issue if you don’t know how often your cat normally uses the bathroom…Read More…
