Is the added expense worth the trouble to insure your beloved pet? Only your veterinarian can determine the cause of symptoms with diagnostic testing. Concentrations in all tissues may be substantially higher after chronic exposure. https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/author/dkhalsa/, [gravityform id=7 title=true description=true ajax=true]. Cats can not only get drunk, but it can also easily cause severe liver . 2. Turn the page and he's probably moved on to the next coursea whole fish. Just as you would do for your children, put all medicines where your cat can't get to them. There are two problems with giving your cat raw eggs. The inorganic forms of mercury, including elemental mercury, are poorly absorbed after skin exposure. Whats the best way to write a love poem. Please do not send multiple submissions (articles that have been sent to more than one publication) unless you have received confirmation that the story will not be used by another magazine. While much of the cat and dog food tested in a years-long study had concentrations of mercury that are high for chronic consumption, according to a new study published in the Elsevier journal Science of the Total Environment, the majority of the pet foods tested had mercury concentrations below suggested levels. o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , DVM, PhD, Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. Thomas: So, if your cat is suffering from mercury toxicity, it can be treated. Send a digital photo, scanned at a minimum of 5 x 7, at 300dpi resolution in a jpeg, tif or pdf format to info@animalwellnessmagazine.com, or send a good quality hard copy original photo (not a color photocopy) to: Photo Contest, Animal Wellness Magazine Because mercury toxicity is not common in cats, it may not be the first thing a veterinarian suspects. Thomas: Cats can develop cataracts, opaque spots in the front of the eyeball that block light and blur vision. 1. Because the neurologic and renal damage resulting from mercury poisoning is irreversible, treatment may be ineffective. Symptoms of vitamin E deficiency include: Stick to no more than 1 tablespoon per week for a healthy, adult cat and opt for the light tuna vs white (albacore) as it contains much less mercury. What they eat; How long they live; How high they are in the food chain; In a given water body, the highest concentrations of methylmercury are generally found in large fish that eat other fish. Its the cause of most of the major kidney failures. For 100 days they fed kittens a diet of tuna that was known to be very high in mercury. Thank you for your interest in writing for Animal Wellness. That kind of treatment aims to remove as many toxins as possible and help your cat get back on its tiny feet quickly. A good rule of thumb is to feed your kitty fish a maximum of two times a week to avoid unnecessary mercury exposure. Whether youre feeding your cat tuna or small fish, ingesting too much mercury could be lethal. Now my cats immediate symptoms are resolved, but he is left with what seem to be neurological problems including balance disturbance and pupils oddly dilated. When these fish are eaten (by you, me, or our cats), the mercury is also ingested and absorbed into the body. Siouxsie: For more information about fluoroquinolone antibiotics and side effects, check out this page on noted veterinarian Dr. Eric Barchass website. Although thoroughly researched, articles are not written or edited by a veterinarian. Cats can also be poisoned by the food they eat, not due to bacteria but because they are intolerant or allergic to the substance. Every can I ate, I shared with my cat. Until veterinarians know more, limit your cats tuna consumption to occasional treats of canned chunk-light tunanot albacore, which is from a larger species of tuna with mercury levels almost three times higher. If you are feeding your cat lots of tuna, then the sound of the hoofbeats is probably coming from a horse called tuna. Every attempt is made to return photographic material, but it is advised that you keep copies of your images. Methylmercury interferes with metabolic activity, resulting in degeneration and necrosis in many tissues, although the brain and fetus are more susceptible. Siouxsie: If a diagnostic test indicates that your cat has mercury poisoning, a therapy called chelation can be done to eliminate the mercury from his body. Aflatoxin Poisoning in Pets. You may submit a maximum of two photos of each animal in your home. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. If you think your cat has eaten something toxic, call your veterinarian immediately. Differential diagnoses may include conditions that produce gastrointestinal distress, renal disease, or neurologic dysfunction manifested by tremors, ataxia, or convulsions. Antifreeze is a common cause of poisoning in small animals. Cats show no such signs, but that doesn't mean they're immune to the toxic effects of mercury. It is usually diagnosed by a blood test or a test of the hair/fur. Can cats get mercury poisoning from tuna cat food? Lucky for us and our pets, mercury poisoning is less common than it once was. Interested in a print subscription? It can lead to obesity and even diabetes. Commercial fish food products such as tuna have been associated with chronic poisoning in humans and cats. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. And a cat can choke on a bone. Siouxsie: They are used to treat infections of the skin, bladder, ears, kidneys, lungs (pneumonia), and prostate gland. Too much tuna can also increase the risk of mercury poisoning. Until veterinarians know more, limit your cat's tuna consumption to occasional treats of canned chunk-light tunanot albacore, which is from a larger species of tuna with mercury levels almost three times higher. 1. The toxic agent in chocolate is theobromine. Creative commons photos used in posts must be shared with original artist credits intact. You may submit articles either by our online contact form, or by mail to: Animal Wellness Magazine She has almost 30 years of experience in holistic modalities. Severe Neurological Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning in Cats Cats could develop severe symptoms of mercury poisoning after getting exposed to foods with high levels of mercury for a long period. While mercury in fish and shellfish is a widespread problem, it doesnt mean you have to eliminate it entirely from your cats diet. But what about our furry feline friends? Still, keep an eye out for possible symptoms of mercury poisoning in. It could take up to four days of continuous treatment to get rid of most of the toxins circulating in the blood. Some tuna now and then probably won't hurt. If youre still concerned about mercury poisoning, read on to learn more about the symptoms of mercury poisoning in cats and how you can protect your pets from the toxicity of food products that contain high levels of mercury. Symptoms include loss of appetite, fever and hypersensitivity to touch due to inflammation and necrosis of fat under the skin. They both died within about 3 months of their first symptoms of weight loss. Ingesting a drug prescribed for humans is one of the most common causes of poisoning in cats. Alternatively, your pet may seem restless and agitated if they have food poisoning. fda.gov/food . Yes, cats can get Salmonella. However, they may persist for days to weeks. Symptoms of food poisoning often include upset stomach, diarrhea and vomiting. It is often referred to as arsenic metal, and for toxicological purposes read more , thallium, or cadmium; insecticides Overview of Insecticide and Acaricide (Organic) Toxicosis in Animals Insecticides are any substance or a mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate insects. Mainly, too much fish over a long period of time could lead to mercury poisoning in cats . In domestic animal species, clinical signs of nervous, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive systems involvement are typical and influenced by the form, dose, and duration of exposure. These human foods can cause serious illness in your cat. The water guidelines in most countries for mercury are 0.001 mg/L and 0.003 mg/L for humans and animals, respectively. The only way to tell what is making your pet sick is to take your cat to the veterinarian. Photographs, where applicable, are also encouraged. Cats with vomiting and diarrhea can also suffer from dehydration, weight loss, and fever. We make no pretense of being veterinarians and we don't know anything about your specific cat's health or behavior history. The Dangers of Mercury Poisoning in Cats: How to Safely Feed Fish to Your Feline. We welcome unsolicited articles and story outlines as long as they focus on holistic healing, whether physical, emotional or spiritual. Siouxsie: If your cat didnt start showing neurological symptoms until after he began his course of antibiotics, the symptoms may be a side effect of the medicine. In humans, symptoms of methylmercury poisoning may include peripheral vision impairment, sensory disturbances (pins and needles), lack of coordination, muscle weakness, and problems with speech, hearing and walking. Recently I was diagnosed with mercury poisoning, probably from my having eaten 7-8 cans of tuna per week over a period of nine months (I was exercising vigorously, but didnt want to include red meat in my diet, so tuna seemed a good alternative). Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. i will be contacting their vet in the morning and also calling out the city for illegal dumping. While cats in the wild hunt their food, indoor kitties rely on their cat parents to provide lunch. A steady diet of dog food can cause your cat to be severely malnourished. Common neurologic manifestations include blindness, ataxia, incoordination, tremors, abnormal behavior, hypermetria, nystagmus (cats), and tonic-clonic convulsions. For that reason, its safer to carefully examine the labels of certain canned foods before feeding them to your cat. The general consensus from vets is that there is no problem with feeding tuna based cat foods. The fish and shellfish found in many cat foods are the main source of mercury exposure in felines. If your cat is indeed suffering from mercury poisoning, your vet will prescribe charcoal tablets and other medications that will help limit the absorption of mercury. Dahlia: Mercury poisoning is pretty rare in cats, and in people. However, it seems reasonable to assume that when a cat eats tuna as its main diet, it ingests far more mercury on a body-weight basis than a human doeseven a person who eats a lot of tuna. Cats are also susceptible to mercury poisoning, so consider choosing a cat food made with other kinds of fish. Those foods include shellfish, tuna, king mackerel, and swordfish. The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. Due to the its corrosive nature, inorganic mercury produces primarily gastrointestinal signs, including anorexia, stomatitis, pharyngitis, vomiting, diarrhea, pain; as well as shock, dyspnea, and dehydration. Metals such as lead Lead Poisoning in Animals Lead poisoning in mammalian and avian species is characterized by neurologic disturbances, gastrointestinal upset, hematologic abnormalities, immunosuppression, infertility, and renal disease read more , arsenic Overview of Arsenic Poisoning in Animals The chemical element arsenic (symbol As, atomic number 33) is a nonmetal or metalloid in group V on the periodic chart. One study from a few years ago found that mercury levels in cats were five times those usually found in people! In food-producing animals, considerable mercury accumulation in tissues intended as food and profound effects on reproduction limit treatment options. It's in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, signs of mercury poisoning in cats may include over-excitement, irritability, incoordination, convulsions, stiff hind legs, tremors and blindness. . Although most cats won't eat it on their own, they can be coaxed to eat it by owners and others who think they are giving the cat a treat. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. With just these symptoms surfacing, your vet might find it difficult to relate your cats condition to mercury poisoning. The symptoms of mercury poisoning in cats can look a lot like other reactions to poison ingestion, vitamin B1 deficiency, brain tumors, and other ailments causing neurological impairment, Stregowski says. Bella: Cats can develop glaucoma, a buildup of pressure inside the eyeball, which can also lead to blindness. The Dangers of Mercury Poisoning in Cats: How to Safely Feed Fish to Your Feline. Dahlia: The fluoroquinolones are powerful antibiotics that are commonly prescribed for pets. They contain a cyanide-type compound and signs of toxicity include apprehension, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation, and shock. Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: A couple of months ago, my 9-year-old male cat became quite ill. His symptoms were primarily lethargy and decreased appetite. As Veterinary and Human Toxicology explains, mercury poisoning can lead to glomerulonephropathy or nephrotic syndrome, which are kidney diseases. Siouxsie: The high levels of mercury in tuna can be dangerous, too. Thomas: This page at vetinfo.com has a list of side effects of common veterinary antibiotics used on cats. Symptoms of methyl mercury poisoning are many. When it comes to dry cat food, it's hard to beat Hill's Science Diet. Albacore tuna also has a high amount of fat, which can cause your cat to gain unnecessary weight. It's also in some cold medicines and painkillers. In fact, it has been found that many pet foods contain concentrations of toxic metals that far exceed the human limit values, calculated to animal-sized dosages. Mainly, too much fish over a long period of time could lead to mercury poisoning in cats. With concerns about mercury poisoning, is it safe to give canned tuna to cats as a treat? You may be familiar with food poisoning, the nasty sickness that starts after ingesting something containing harmful bacteria. Death often occurs within hours at high levels of exposure. Unused material will be returned after due consideration. Currently, there are hundreds of OP compounds in use, and they have replaced the banned organochlorine compounds read more , carbamate Carbamate Toxicosis in Animals The carbamates are esters of carbamic acid. Early detection can be the difference between life and death for your feline companion. Unlike organophosphates (OPs), carbamates are not structurally complex. US: 6834 S. University Blvd. Large ranges in mercury concentrations in pet foods have been reported previously, with cat diets often being higher than those for dogs. This is why is is so imperative to take the cat to a specialist. Kidney damage in both cats and humans. Try replacing tuna-based foods with those made from fish that have lower concentrations of mercury, such as salmon.