Traditional medicine

A girl swallows a live mouse. What happens if a cat eats a poisoned mouse?

Cats constantly show their hunter instinct, even if they live at home. For those owners who do not let their animals go outside, the problem that the cat may eat something dangerous is not relevant, but knowing how to identify poisoning is necessary, since nutrition can also cause deterioration in health.

How can a cat eat a poisoned mouse?

The same cats that walk freely on the street can accidentally catch and eat a poisoned mouse. In this case, without prompt specialized treatment, it is almost impossible to save the animal’s life.

Cats walking freely on the street can eat a poisoned mouse.

Modern rodent control products contain serious poisons that, if ingested, cause serious poisoning.

Take action to immediate treatment necessary, for this it is important to know the basic symptoms.

Features of poisons and symptoms of poisoning

In the event that a cat has eaten a mouse that has already been poisoned, the process of poisoning will most likely be observed in the pet.

If a cat eats a poisoned mouse, it may become poisoned.

All poisons intended for mice have special property- stop the process of blood clotting. As a result of the interaction of the poison, the blood loses its ability to clot, and the mouse dies from bleeding. Cats experience the same negative changes.

Important to remember : symptoms of poisoning appear within a period of 1 to 5 days from the moment the poison enters the body. The presence of a problem can be determined by the symptoms characteristic of poisoning.

Symptoms of animal poisoning

Refusal to eat and severe weakness are symptoms of poisoning.

The symptoms are characteristic of poisoning by poisons, and not by the food that the cat consumed. Main manifestations of the problem:

Complete refusal to eat;
Severe weakness;
Shortness of breath for no apparent reason;
Tachycardia;
Internal bleeding;
External bleeding;
High temperature (above 40 0);
Vomit;
Hematomas in large numbers;
Convulsions;
Hypertonicity of the body and paws.

First aid for a cat

It is important to pay maximum attention to the symptoms, as you can save the cat’s life.

As soon as the first suspicions arise that the cat was poisoned by eating a mouse, it is necessary or other adsorbent (2 tablets).

For quick impact the body should crush the tablets into powder, then dilute in small quantity water, then give it to the animal (pour it into the mouth, using a syringe without a needle for convenience).

The next necessary step is visit to the veterinarian . You cannot ignore a visit to a specialist, since it is necessary to determine the type of substance that caused the poisoning.

At the first suspicion of poisoning, activated carbon should be given.

Diagnostics and veterinary care

Based on the results of the examination, treatment is prescribed.

The process of identification and diagnosis is carried out by taking tests and examining the external condition of the animal; you will also need to do an ultrasound to determine whether there is damage to the internal organs.

Based on the results of the identification and examination, treatment and preventive measures are prescribed to strengthen the body. In the event that a cat is poisoned by a poison that the owner used to self-deliverance from rodents, then during the visit it is necessary to provide the veterinarian with poison packaging – this will help to minimize the time for diagnosis and prescribing a course of treatment.

It is important to remember that even a quick reaction from the owner and initiation of therapy does not guarantee the cat’s survival. However, quick, immediate action increases the chances of a positive outcome. And also, except for adsorbents, no medications intended for humans should be given to a cat.

Inducing vomiting

Emetic root syrup will help induce vomiting in a cat.

One of effective ways treatment is to induce vomiting. Emetic root syrup in an amount of 3–4 ml will help with this. Also, as an option, if there is no vomit root, you can give the cat regular warm water. boiled water, then make the movement characteristic of inducing vomiting - forcefully but gently press on the root of the cat’s tongue.

Treatment

It is necessary to give the cat plenty of clean water.

Further treatment involves the use of adsorbents at the rate of 1 tablet = 1 kg of weight. The course of treatment is 7 days.

But it is also required give the cat plenty of clean, regular water (not boiled) water. Necessary drug which prevents further bleeding and possible complications– vitamin K1. The course of treatment is 1–3 weeks. It is important to remember that the vitamin should be given only 2 hours after taking the adsorbent. Exact dosage determined by the veterinarian during the appointment.

Conclusions

A quick response to a problem will save your pet’s life.

Thus, the symptoms of poisoning after a cat has eaten a poisoned mouse are bright and well-defined. Consultation with a specialist and a quick response to a problem that has arisen can not only maintain health, but also save the life of a pet.

Video about a cat who ate a mouse

Adult cats and cats are real predators. Animals that have free range are happy to catch birds and mice. And especially seasoned cats do an excellent job even with rats. For humans, the extermination of rodents near residential buildings is very good, but for cats there may be danger lurking here. Cats can become poisoned by drugs used to kill rodents. If a cat eats a poisoned mouse, then his body begins to become intoxicated., which can be fatal.

How can a cat get poisoned?

Almost all poisons used to kill rodents are zoocoumarins. These drugs reduce blood clotting and provoke different types bleeding. Typically, the poison must be taken regularly for it to be effective. If a cat eats a poisoned mouse or rat once, then its health is not in danger., and if eating rodents occurs repeatedly, then poisoning is possible. In addition, your pet can become poisoned if it periodically eats rat and mouse bait.

There is a group of drugs that also belong to coumarins latest generation. These poisons are more toxic:

Zinc phosphide.
Bromethalin.
Sodium fluoroacetate.

Such drugs are very poisonous for animals; poisoning can result from consumption of bait or a rodent infected with poison. Food baits that are used to fight mice will be of little interest to a cat, since they are made on the basis of a grain mixture. But Rat baits are often made from meat or fish products.

Signs of a cat being poisoned by rat poison

If the cat is affected by rat poison or other poisons from the group of zoocoumarins, then the symptoms will be as follows:

various bleedings - nasal, stomach, uterine. Hemorrhages appear in oral cavity. These symptoms can develop within ten days after the toxic drug enters the body;
vomiting – this symptom does not necessarily appear. Happens immediately after eating a poisoned rodent;
internal bleeding - with such injuries the cat may die within a few days, without any obvious signs of poisoning.

You can recognize that poisons of this type are used in the area by looking at already dead rodents. They may notice blood coming from the rectum or mouth.

If a cat eats a mouse poisoned with rat poisons of other groups, the symptoms will be as follows:

increased excitability, nervousness, atypical dynamism;
complete loss of coordination - the animal’s gait is unstable, its paws get tangled, and the cat falls over on its side. There may be involuntary head shaking;
neurological manifestations - convulsions, twitching of muscles and paws;
body temperature rises significantly;
the animal becomes lethargic and drowsy.

When the first signs of poisoning appear the pet must be taken to a veterinary clinic!

First aid for a cat in case of poisoning

What should you do first if your cat has eaten a rodent and is worried? The sequence of actions is given below:

Induce vomiting - this procedure makes sense only if the cat has eaten suspicious food in full view of the owners. Otherwise, the poison has long been absorbed into the bloodstream, and vomiting will cause the condition to worsen due to dehydration. To provoke vomiting in a cat, you need to give a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and water in equal parts. A teaspoon of this solution is per 2 kg of cat weight. You can use a concentrated solution table salt or sprinkle a pinch of baking soda on your cat's tongue. The prepared solutions are infused into the cat by force, using a syringe without a needle or syringe.
To neutralize toxins in the stomach, give the cat any sorbent, which is available in home medicine cabinet. The drug is dissolved in half a glass of warm water and poured into the pet’s mouth.
Next, the cat is fed any enveloping foods that will reduce the absorption of poison into the mucous membranes. It could be raw eggs, milk jelly, decoction of flaxseeds.

Sorbents and products that envelop the mucous membrane are given to the animal only after vomiting has completely stopped.

Three hours after the last dose enveloping agent, the cat is given a laxative. A 2% solution of magnesium or sodium sulfate, castor oil or petroleum jelly are suitable for this.
Rinse the intestines with an enema. About 30 ml of saline solution or clean water is injected into the cat's rectum.

The enema liquid should be taken slightly warm. More hot water promotes the strongest absorption of toxins into the blood.

If the cat's symptoms indicate the action of anticoagulants, drugs that interfere with blood clotting, then vitamin K is injected into the muscle in a dosage of 1-2 ml. A pet's recovery is usually long and can range from three weeks to three months..

A fairly common poison for exterminating rodents is zinc phosphide. It threatens the life of a cat only when bait containing rodent poison has been eaten. When a cat eats a mouse or rat that is poisoned with this poison, there is no danger to health. When directly eating the bait, the cat’s first signs appear within a short time and look like this:

uncontrollable vomiting, sometimes streaked with blood;
severe pain in the gastrointestinal tract;
a characteristic smell of rotten fish appears from the oral cavity;
respiratory function becomes difficult;
convulsions appear.

If the cat is not quickly emergency assistance, then within short term death comes.

When an animal is intoxicated with zinc phosphide first aid consists of washing the stomach with a 0.5% solution of copper sulfate and a 2% solution baking soda. You can give medicines containing aluminum and magnesium, for example Maalox.

The rehabilitation period for a cat after poisoning

For any degree of poisoning, the cat requires examination veterinarian and prescribing adequate treatment. Even with the pet’s apparent health, the consequences may still appear. long time. Besides medicines, the cat needs proper care and dieting.

Within 24 hours after the first symptoms of poisoning appear, the cat is given only water and sorbents.. From the second day you can start feeding the animal in small portions and several times a day. IN dietary nutrition The following products are used for cats:

boiled meat - horse meat, veal, lean beef, chicken breast;
fish of different varieties, but not too fatty;
boiled liver;
vegetables - boiled carrots, beets, cauliflower;
viscous porridges - oatmeal, buckwheat, rice.

Dairy products are gradually being reintroduced into the cat's diet. This can be low-fat milk, cottage cheese and low-fat cheese. You can give bifidokefir, which stimulates the intestinal mucosa well and helps avoid constipation.

All food for a cat during the rehabilitation period should be light, fresh and easily digestible.

What not to give to a cat after poisoning

After poisoning, the cat is strictly prohibited from giving the following products:

dry food of any class. Regardless of whether it is a budget food or a premium one, it causes severe irritation to the stomach, which has not had time to recover after the poison entered the body;
canned cat food - this food is not healthy, it does not contain the necessary enzymes that improve digestion. Canned food should only be offered to a cat in exceptional cases.;
offal – it is worth removing tripe, udder and kidneys from the cat’s diet for a while. Boiled beef heart can be given in limited quantities;
legumes in any form cause bloating;
confectionery – great content carbohydrates are not desirable for an organism that has just experienced severe intoxication;
bread and pasta are difficult to digest due to the weakened gastric mucosa. May call congestion in the digestive system.

At the cat's for a long time after poisoning it may be poor appetite . Under no circumstances should you force feed her. Sometimes you have to keep the animal on IVs for several days.

Consequences of cat poisoning by mouse

Any poison causes severe intoxication of the body and disables everything important organs and systems. Especially for animals toxic substance is rat poison, which is used to control rodents. There may be no consequences of poisoning, but they may be very severe:

Acute liver damage, which leads to organ enlargement and chronic jaundice.
Neurological diseases - paralysis of limbs, loss of coordination.
Changes in the organs of vision - with severe poisoning, the cat may develop atrophy optic nerve and blindness.
Hearing impairment.
Disruption urinary system– urinary incontinence and chronic inflammation bladder.
Persistent allergic reactions which are accompanied by hair loss and itching.
Reproductive dysfunction.
Comatose state and death.

How to protect your cat from poisoning

Cats are animals that walk on their own. Unlike dogs, it is difficult for them to put on a collar and dictate the path of a walk. These animals love freedom and independence. To avoid severe poisoning in cats, you need to follow small rules. The cat should always be fed before walking, with a full stomach, she will not look for food on the street. You should not scatter poisoned bait for rodents in the house and surrounding area; it is better to use the services of a sanitation station.

Love your pets and be extremely attentive to them. If your cat shows signs of illness, do not turn a blind eye. How quickly the cat recovers from poisoning depends on the actions of the owner. and whether it will have consequences. The person’s task is to deliver the cat to the hospital as quickly as possible.

If you live in a private house, you have probably repeatedly encountered the problem of a cat eating a poisoned mouse. Sometimes this happens due to one’s own carelessness, and sometimes through careless neighbors. But even if you are a resident of a high-rise building, you should not think that you are safe and that this will not happen to your pet. To prevent this situation from becoming a dead end for you, we will try to help you figure out what to do if a cat ate a poisoned mouse and how dangerous it is.

Where can a cat find a poisoned mouse?

A cat walking calmly down the street can catch a poisoned mouse. All of them are hunters by nature, and any of them will prefer the most ordinary mouse to even the best sausage. It is simply impossible to keep track of them.

If you place rodent poison, you should do this only in places where the cat cannot reach.

Symptoms of poisoning

Swallowed poisonous substance cat may not immediately show signs of poisoning. It all depends on the specific poison and the method of its entry. The poison can enter the body through a poisoned mouse or rat, or by directly eating it. In the first case, the symptoms will not begin to appear so soon; time must pass before the cat poisons the poisoned mouse. But in both cases there is general symptoms which will show that something is wrong with your animal and he needs help. Signs of poisoning include:

hematomas;
seizures and convulsions;
vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes with blood;
tachycardia and shortness of breath;
apathy and refusal to eat;
fear of people;
other.

The presence of at least one of these points indicates problems with the cat, and the need to contact a veterinary hospital.

First aid

Situations vary, and immediate veterinary intervention is not always possible. If a cat has eaten a mouse poisoned with rat poison, it is necessary to take a number of measures to help the animal before a specialist arrives.

Induce vomiting in a cat. This can be done using special preparations or by giving the cat boiled water and pressing on the base of the tongue. This procedure will help remove the poison that has not yet been absorbed.
Enema or gastric lavage. Saline solution or simple boiled water cooled to room temperature are well suited for this purpose. It is better to take the smallest pear, if there is no special one, No. 1 is suitable for newborn babies. The amount of liquid for washing depends on the size of the cat and the degree of poisoning, but it should not be more than 20-30 ml.
Activated carbon. In order for the poison to no longer spread throughout the body, it must be “bound”, for this purpose adsorbent preparations are given, for example, activated carbon.
Presence of any bleeding– internal or external indicates that the poisoning was an anticoagulant drug. In this case, you need to inject vitamin K intramuscularly.

If you know that the cat was poisoned by a poison that contains zinc phosphate, then only gastric lavage is required. This type of poison is dangerous if the bait itself is eaten, and if a cat eats a poisoned mouse, then there is no danger to its life.

But all these measures are temporary, and in any case, in case of poisoning, qualified help is needed. After blood and urine tests, and based on your story, the doctor will prescribe an antidote and a series of maintenance drips. You can speed up the process of finding a poison if you know exactly what poison you are using. Also, if possible, you need to ask your neighbors if they used poison and, if so, what kind.

Rehabilitation period

You need to be prepared for the fact that the cat’s recovery process will be long. The specific timing depends on the cat’s body and the degree of poisoning. It will require strength not only from the cat, but also from you. Any recovery will happen faster if you give the cat peace and attention. Your affection and care will be invaluable to him during this period.

For the first time 24 hours after poisoning, providing medical care The cat is only given something to drink. Used as a liquid clean water, herbal decoction or Regidron solution. On the second day, complementary foods are carefully introduced. You need to start with dietary products;

low-fat cottage cheese and kefir;
lean varieties of meat and fish, and only boiled;
boiled vegetables;
viscous porridge.

It is best to discuss the sequence of introducing products and their quantity with your veterinarian.

There are often cases when a cat refuses to eat after being poisoned by a mouse. Under no circumstances should you force feed the animal, this will only complicate the healing process. The cat needs to be taken to the veterinary hospital for injections of glucose and saline solution.

Can a cat die if it eats a poisoned mouse? Yes! But you have the power to prevent this from happening. It depends on you how successful the treatment will be, and the possibility of poisoning itself. Love your animals and take care of their well-being.