Plant Poisoning

Japanese yew, mountain laurel, lily of the valley, philodendron, dieffenbachia what do all of these ornamental plants have in common? Though all are beautiful, they all are potentially toxic when ingested, and cats are particularly susceptible. Fortunately, poisoning of cats by plants is relatively uncommon. Most outdoor cats have enough activity to keep them occupied, but bored house cats are somewhat more likely to chew on available plants.

When plant poisoning does occur, it may be a life-threatening emergency, requiring quick action if the cat is to survive.
The list of plants potentially dangerous to cats is long. Some of the more common plants, the signs of poisoning, and suggested treatment are summarized in Plants Poisionous To Cats. In addition to the specific treatments given, a few general principles should be remembered. First and foremost, get the poisonous material out of the cat. Take the plant away if the cat is caught in the act. in most cases, try to induce vomiting to get the offending plant material out of the stomach. Some easy ways to induce vomiting are the following:

1. Give 1 to 2 teaspoons of syrup of ipecac (may be repeated once in twenty minutes if needed)

2. Give 1 to 2 teaspoons of a 1:1 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water (repeat a few times at twentyminute intervals if needed).
if the source of poison is unknown, take the cat and a sample of the vomitus to the veterinarian immediately.

Do not induce vomiting in the following cases:

• Plants that cause throat irritation, such as Dumb Cane (dieffenbachia) or philodendron, will burn just as much coming back up as they did going down, so it is safer to leave them in the stomach.

• Two hours after eating, most of the poison has probably entered the intestines or passed into the bloodstream, so making the animal vomit at that point does not help. If the cat is unconscious or semiconscious, chances are very good that it will inhale the vomit and suffocate.

Once the cat has vomited, try to inactivate any poison that may be left in its system. A crushed activated charcoal tablet fed to the cat will adsorb (bind) to the toxins, so they can pass out of the body before being absorbed in the intestinal tract. This can be repeated several times at thirty-minute intervals. A less convenient but more effective way to orally administer activated charcoal is as a slurry. This can be quite messy, so make sure to administer in a bathtub or other easily cleaned area. Mix one gram of activated charcoal (either powdered form or crushed tablets) in each teaspoon of water. Then slowly give about one teaspoon of this mixture per pound body weight. Do not confuse activated charcoal tablets (purchased from the drugstore) with charcoal dog biscuits marketed for mouth odor or charcoal briquets for a barbecue. Do not give activated charcoal in addition to syrup of ipecac, even if the cat has vomited; the two bind together and inactivate each other. Induce the conscious cat to drink as much lukewarm milk or water as possible. This will help dilute the toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. Milk has a soothing, coating effect on the intestines. If necessary, feed liquids carefully with an eyedropper.

Evaluate the cat's general appearance. is it slipping into shock? Is it having trouble breathing? Keep the animal comfortable and warm. Give artificial respiration if necessary.

In all cases, an immediate visit to the veterinarian is necessary to determine the severity of the poisoning, or the presence of secondary complications, or to administer specific antidotes.

Prevention. Undoubtedly the best treatment for plant poisoning is prevention. Keep poisonous plants hanging out of a cat's reach, or in a separate room that is off-limits to animals. In the warm months, outdoor plants can carry chemical poisons. Highly toxic herbicides and organophosphate pesticides on grass clippings can be deadly.