What to do if your cat eats something poisonous | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist

Posted by justinelee in Animal Safety, Blog, Pet Health

If your cat just ate something poisonous, unfortunately there is nothing you can safely do at home!

While we can safely induce vomiting in dogs when they eat something poisonous, there is nothing you can do for cats at home. (For dog owners, check out this “How to induce vomiting in your dog” video here).

While cats vomit all the time at home, getting them to vomit up poisons is actually difficult. Keep in mind that there is A LOT of misinformation on Google about how to inducing vomiting in cats – there is actually nothing you can do at home.

That’s because the use of hydrogen peroxide (H202) can cause severe bleeding ulcers in cats’ stomachs. In fact, according to anecdotal information from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, it causes severe vomiting of blood in 25% of cats that get in. As a board-certified veterinary emergency critical care specialist and toxicologist, I’ve actually seen several cats DIE from getting hydrogen peroxide. I published a case report of it here:

When in doubt, if your cat got into something poisonous, you want to get to your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian immediately – even if it’s in the middle of the night. When in doubt, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for life-saving advice too (I always recommend pre-saving their number (888) 426-4435 in your cell phone too). The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is the onl non-profit animal poison control in the world, but please be aware there is a small $65 fee associated with the call. This includes all follow up with your veterinarian too.

Once you bring your cat to the veterinarian, they can induce vomiting with prescription, safer medications. I included the medical information here for you to bring to your veterinarian:

Hydrogen peroxide is not a reliable emetic in cats and its use generally is NOT recommended in this species. In addition, cats can develop profound clinical signs from the administration of H2O2, including profuse foaming from the mouth and severe hemorrhagic gastritis. Apomorphine hydrochloride is a centrally acting emetic agent. Administration results in stimulation of the CRTZ, quickly followed by emesis. Apomorphine should not be used in cats, as it is not considered to be effective. Instead, alpha adrenergic agonists (e.g., dexmedetomidine, xylazine) are centrally-acting emetic agents that are used as emetic agents in cats. Adverse effects associated with alpha-adrenergic drugs include bradycardia, sedation, tremors, and respiratory depression.1,2 Thawley and Drobatz found that dexmedetomidine (7 mcg/kg, IM) resulted in emesis approximately 80% of the time in cats, as compared to only about 44% of the time in cats with xylazine.4 A similar study by Willey et al supported this.5 Alpha adrenergic agonists should not be used in cats that have ingested medications (e.g., other alpha-adrenergic agonist drugs) or products that may result in compounding of bradycardia, respiratory depression, sedation, or CNS depression symptoms.1,2

When in doubt, cat owners should be advised on how to appropriately pet proof. While poisoning calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) only comprise 10% of their total calls, the severity of poisoning can be more severe in cats due to their curious nature, altered glucuronidation metabolism, and species differences in toxicity. When in doubt, the prognosis can be excellent with feline toxicants provided immediately identification, recognition and treatment occurs.

REFERENCES
1. Lee JA. Decontamination of the Poisoned Patient. In: Osweiler G, Hovda L, Brutlag A, Lee JA, ed. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology, 1st Ed. Iowa City: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, pp. 5-19.
2. Peterson ME. Toxicological Decontamination. In: Peterson ME, Talcott PA, ed. Small Animal Toxicology, 2nd Ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders, 2006, pp. 127-141.
3. Obr TD, Fry JK, Lee JA, et al. Necroulcerative hemorrhagic gastritis in a cat secondary to the administration of 3% hydrogen peroxide as an emetic agent. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2017;27(5):605-608.
4. Thawley VJ, Drobatz KJ. Assessment of dexmedetomidine and other agents for emesis induction in cats: 43 cases (2009-2014). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015;247(12):1415-1418.
5. Willey JL, Julius TM, Claypool SPA, et al. Evaluation and comparison of xylazine hydrochloride and dexmedetomidine hydrochloride for the induction of emesis in cats: 47 cases (2007–2013). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2016;248(8):923-928.

NOTE: When in doubt, all drug dosages should be confirmed and cross-referenced with a reference guide such as Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook.