Easter Time Toxins
Easter time is here!
It’s Easter this week, and although it is a time for celebration, care should be taken to ensure that our feline friends don’t also overindulge on things they shouldn’t be….. Did you know that some of our favourite Easter treats from flowers to food pose a risk to cats and can cause harm?
Tulips:
This beautiful spring flower is popular to gift over the Easter period, but can make cats sick if eaten. The whole flower is toxic: petals, stem, leaves - but especially the bulbs. They contain alkaloid and glycoside compounds, and the allergenic lactones tulipalin A and B.
Ingesting small amounts may result in hypersalivation (drooling excessively), vomiting, diarrhoea and depression. More severe symptoms can be seen if larger amounts or part of the bulb is ingested, these include:
Coma Cardiac arrhythmias
Increased heart and respiratory rate Tremors
Difficulty breathing Abdominal pain
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Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms but may include emptying the stomach, and giving activated charcoal which helps to absorb toxins. Fluids may be given to help support dehydration.
Daffodils:
Like tulips, each part of the plant can cause unwanted symptoms if eaten, but the bulb is the most toxic. They contain lycorine which causes symptoms such as:
Nausea/vomiting Cardiac arrythtmias
Diarrhoea Shivering
Increased heart rate Wobbliness
Low blood pressure Lethargy
Excessive drooling Abdominal pain
Seizures
As with tulip ingestion, treatment will depend on the symptoms seen and may include emptying the stomach and giving activated charcoal which helps to absorb toxins. Fluids may be given to correct dehydration.
Lilies:
Many types of Lily are extremely toxic to felines, including Easter, Japanese and stargazer lilies. In these species the entire plant including the pollen is dangerous, even if only small amounts are ingested. Water that the lilies are housed in can also cause issues if your cat drinks it. These Lilies cause damage to the kidneys (nephrotoxicity) which in some cases may be fatal. Symptoms usually appear within a few hours and include:
Vomiting Not eating (inappetence)
Drooling Drinking/urinating more often
Twitching/seizures
It is important not to wait for symptoms to develop as early veterinary intervention is key to survival.
Some species of Lily such as the peace lily, lily of the valley and calla lily are still toxic, but cause less severe damage such as oral irritation, drooling and stomach upset.
Treatment includes stomach emptying, removing any pollen from fur, activated charcoal, and fluids via a drip to flush out toxins. Bloods may be taken to check the kidney’s function. Cats who already have kidney issues may be more at risk. The sooner cats who have ingested lilies are treated, the better their outcome is likely to be.
Raisins:
These are found in hot cross buns, a staple Easter treat. Like grapes, they are very toxic to cats when ingested, even in small amounts, and there is a potential to cause damage to the kidneys. Symptoms of raisin ingestion may be:
Diarrhoea Abdominal pain
Lethargy Reduced appetite
Decreased urination
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There may be no symptoms at all, so it is important to contact a vet immediately if you suspect that your cat has eaten any raisins.
Prompt treatment is key. Treatment may include stomach emptying, activated charcoal, and fluids via a drip to flush out toxins and blood tests to check kidney function. Cats who already have kidney issues may be more at risk.
Chocolate:
Chocolate contains theobromine which is toxic to cats. Some chocolate also contains caffeine The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content. Cocoa powder/drinking chocolate also tends to contain higher levels of theobromine. Symptoms of chocolate toxicity include:
Diarrhoea Increased heart rate/breathing rate
vomitting Excitedness/Restlessness
Treatment includes, induced vomiting, activated charcoal and may include fluid therapy depending on how much/type of chocolate eaten.
If you think your cat has ingested anything toxic, please contact your veterinary practice immediately, even if they are showing no symptoms.
Useful Resources:
ASPCA identification of poisonous Lilies: apcc_feline_toxins_grfx_2021_03_1.jpg (2500Ă—2500)
Cats Protection have produced a list of toxic and non-toxic plants, this can be found here: cats_protection-safe-plants-guide.pdf
