Most Common Toxicities in Cats

#1 Lilies: Lilies cause sudden kidney failure in cats. Easter lily, tiger lily, stargazer lily, Japanese show lily, Asiatic hybrid lilies, and daylilies are highly toxic. Exposure to any part of the plant, including leaves, flowers, pollen, or even the water from the vase or a pot, is problematic.  Other lilies (such as, calla lily, peace lily, and Peruvian lily) will cause more mild toxicities.  This can include gastrointestinal upset and mouth irritation.  #2 Household cleaners: This includes every thing from toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, antibacterial spray, and disinfectant products. Basically it includes anything that you use in your home to clean. Laundry pods have also become more of a concern as they gain popularity.  Signs include gastrointestinal upset to burns and pneumonia. All cleaning products have potential risks to our pets when ingested or with dermal exposure.

#3 Topical flea and tick treatments: Those that are pyrethroid based (e.g., Zodiac, K9 Advantix, Sergeant’s, etc.) cause tremors and seizures and can be deadly to cats.  Be sure to always dose your dogs and cats with appropriate flea and tick medications.  They are dosed according to weight and species. Not all products are safe for cats and if they receive a dog product it is toxic.

#4 NSAIDs:Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are toxic to cats.  They do not have the same enzymes as humans do to break down the medications.  For example forms include of tylenol, advil, aleve, excedrin, ibuprofen, and aspirin.  Ingestion can lead to bleeding, stomach ulcers, kidney failure, even death.  Many well-meaning pet owners give these to their pets in hope to alleviate their pets discomfort, not knowing the dangerous consequences.  Please check with your veterinarian before you give your pet any medication!  You must also keep purses or bags containing these medications out of reach of your pet.  Cats are extremely sensitive to these toxicities, 1-2 tablets of aspirin or tylenol can be toxic, even deadly.

#5 Plants containing insoluble calcium oxalate crystals: These include houseplants like the peace lily, philodendron, and pothos.  They can cause oral irritation and upper GI irritation, foaming at the mouth, and inflammation when ingested.

Some of the most common pet poisons we see on emergency at the Village Veterinary Clinic of Hamburg are when our pets eat something they should not.  If you know or suspect your pet has ingested or has been exposed to one of the following items please contact your veterinarian or the Village Veterinary Clinic of Hamburg immediately (716-646-4023).  We are available 24/7 for emergency calls!