treatment hotline: Five Tips for Treating Cat Permethrin Toxicosis, © 2020 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Add to the mix cats who are exposed to permethrin-containing dog products, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. More severely affected cats, especially those suffering from fits that are hard to control, have a poorer prognosis and sadly may die or are put to sleep. Left untreated, permethrin poisoning is usually fatal. Cats, however, are exquisitely susceptible to the toxic effects of permethrins. Thankfully the majority of cats, if treated promptly by their vet, will make a full recovery. In very severe cases the cat has to be given an anaesthetic to stop the fits and a tube put into its throat to help it breathe. Pyrethrins and Permethrin. Further treatment depends on how badly affected the cat is, but medication often needs to be given to stop the tremors or fits. If you use them in the right strength and amount, they are generally safe for your cat. Results The diagnosis of permethrin toxicity was made on the basis of a history of exposure and characteristic clinical signs, including seizures, muscle fasciculations, and tremors. The following day Jasper was discharged from hospital. We use cookies to improve our website to make sure you have a better browsing experience. When orally administered to dogs, d -limonene causes vomiting (median effective dose 1.6 mL/kg). Permethrin is only found in dog-specific flea treatments because it’s highly toxic to cats and fish. Comment on Vet Rec. A relatively new treatment (called lipid infusion) is available which helps to ‘mop up’ the permethrin from the cat’s system and may offer a better chance of survival for severely affected cats. Symptoms include severe muscle tremors and seizures. Permethrin toxicity in cats. ). The most common symptoms include: The same applies if you think your cat has been in contact with a treated dog. Author(s) : Bessant, C.; Sparkes, A. Most brands of permethrin "spot-on" products are labeled for"use in dogs only." Jasper required intensive nursing care and monitoring. For households with dogs and cats, use spot-on products that do not contain permethrin to avoid accidental exposure, or keep your pets apart until the dog’s treatment has dried. Pyrethrins are naturally occurring insecticides extracted from the flowers of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium. At this stage, he still had facial and limb twitches. What is permethrin? The signs of neurotoxicity can be seen, as tremors and salivation. Permethrin is a synthetic insecticide known as a pyrethroid. Permethrins are also toxic to fish. Cats are also at risk from grooming or being in direct contact with recently treated dogs. Researchers fed dogs and mice permethrin for up to 2 years and found that their livers increased in weight. This is because insects can't break it down as quickly as people and dogs. Whenever permethrin poisoning is known or suspected, it is important to notify both the manufacturer of the product and the local drug regulatory authorities (your vet can help you with this). Never use products labelled 'Do NOT use on cats' or 'for use in dog’s only' on your cat, and don’t use them on dogs if you have cats in your home. The vet will initially try and prevent the cats from absorbing more permethrin through its skin by washing the cat with dilute washing up liquid. Retrospective study of 20 cases of permethrin toxicity in cats treated at an emergency clinic in Brisbane, Queensland from October 2004 to June 2005. Application of permethrin-based insecticide to a cat will usually result in toxic signs within 6 hours. Why Are Cats at Risk? The nurse alerted the veterinarian on duty and commenced preparing equipment ready for Jasper’s arrival. Learn about the three-year training program, approved by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), for licensed veterinarians interested in developing deep expertise in the practice of shelter medicine. All our advice is freely accessible to everyone, wherever you are in the world. Learn what to do if you’re presented with an animal who has ingested these common people foods. Permethrin is used in some flea spot-on products made for dogs, and occasionally (in lower doses) in flea powders and collars for cats. Unfortunately, pyrethrins and pyrethroids (especially permethrin) are not species-specific in their toxicity, meaning they can also cause severe and significant problems in pets, especially cats (who lack the liver enzymes necessary to process these compounds as they are absorbed through the skin). Twenty-four hours later he was greatly improved with fewer mild limb twitches, and he was offered food. As a caring owner concerned about flea control in her animals, Jasper’s well-meaning owner split a permethrin-containing flea spot-on product, manufactured for use on large dogs, between Jasper, their small dog and their pet rabbit. Treating Pyrethrin Poisoning Rinse your cat with warm water. Cats often have to remain in the veterinary clinic for several days. Flea season is hard enough to handle when treating flea allergy dermatitis, helping an owner get control over a household flea infestation, or treating kittens with flea bite anemia. Make sure you buy flea treatment solely designed for cats – it can be easy to pick up the wrong pack when dog and cat... Be very careful if shopping online. Jasper’s owners contacted their local veterinary hospital – they had no idea what had caused the problems. Visit us on Facebook for daily APCC news and conversation. Unless cases of poisoning are reported through these official channels, the scale of the problem cannot be determined. This prevents mutual grooming or even the pets sleeping next to each other, which could result in poisoning if your cat became exposed. Methocarbamol (50-150mg/kg IV bolus, titrate up as needed, but do not exceed 330mg/kg/d) works best to control the tremors. Pyrethrins are a natural substance extracted from chrysanthemums. They perhaps assume that the dog product is simply a higher volume of the chemical and that if they apply a small amount to the cat, that will be fine. Permethrin toxicity in cats Overview Permethrin is a chemical used to treat fleas. Tick and flea treatments for dogs are highly concentrated and should NEVER be used on cats. If dogs are treated with flea products containing permethrin then they should be kept away from cats for 72 hours. 1. That’s because oral use can lead to liver failure and neurological damage. Given the effects on sodium and chloride channels, clinical … fly spray, garden insect sprays, cockroach spray, ant powder, mosquito … His owner did not mean to harm Jasper at all and in the future will only use flea products that do not contain permethrin, bought from her vet. We often use the phrase ‘cats are not small dogs’ and this is certainly true when it comes to the way cats break down certain chemicals and drugs in their bodies. Permethrins are the man-made version of pyrethrins. Poisoning from permethrin was suspected in 27 cats, of which 10 died. Your cat can become poisoned by licking the dog or even by sleeping next to your dog. The veterinary nurse on duty was able to advise them that immediate veterinary attention was required and brief questioning determined that this was a possible case of permethrin toxicity. Permethrin toxicity in cats. These permethrin compounds may be obtainedover-the-counter in grocery stores or pet stores. He was also treated with oxygen, his temperature was monitored and regulated, lubricants were put in his eyes to prevent them drying, and he was turned every two hours to keep him comfortable and prevent lung collapse. Factors that may contribute to the misuse of permethrin products on cats may include: the availability of products in supermarkets where they can be purchased without veterinary advice, similar packaging of dissimilar products and failure of owners to read product packaging or failure to … Permethrin poisoning is one of the most common causes of poisoning of cats worldwide and it can be life threatening in many cases. Unlike dogs, cats lack the enzyme needed to detox products containing permethrin or pyrethrum. Please consider making a contribution, big or small, to keep our content free, accurate and relevant. It can take up to 24 hours after exposure for your cat to show signs of poisoning, though symptoms can start right away. nary medicines since 1995, showed that permethrin toxicity in cats usually occurred after the owner applied a canine permethrin-containing product, typically a spot-on. Fish are so sensitive that they may die from even the smallest exposure, so be sure to cover aquarium tanks (with something non-porous like plastic wrap) or remove the tanks from an area you’ll be treating with a product containing a pyrethrin or pyrethroid (e.g., foggers, sprays, etc. Support International Cat Care from as little £3, Sign up to our monthly newsletter and free e-magazine Intelligent Cat Care, Reg Charity 1117342 (England and Wales) Place Farm, Chilmark Road, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6LW. Martin A, Campbell A. • Intelligent Cat Care Blog Permethrin is generally used as an insecticide and is found in some flea spot-on products made for dogs, however, for cats, exposure to concentrated permethrin can result in serious illness and death. The most common way cats are poisoned is when owners use a dog flea product on their cat in error. It is known to be highly toxic to cats, fish and aquatic species with long-lasting effects. PMID: While baked bread likely won’t cause a life-threatening problem in pets, raw dough can be fatal. The regions of his fur where the dog spot-on had been applied were clipped and he was washed with a mild dishwashing detergent. Learn why dough is dangerous and what to do if a dog or cat ingests it. Permethrin is a pyrethroid, a synthetic pyrethrin. Permethrin poisoning is a very distressing condition and completely preventable. Permethrin; Phenothrin; Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are rapidly absorbed when ingested by mouth. No antidote is available. It’s also usually saved for topical treatments. The most common clinical signs of permethrin toxicity in cats are muscle tremors and seizures. Methods Retrospective study of 20 cases of permethrin toxicity in cats treated at an emergency clinic in Brisbane, Queensland from October 2004 to June 2005. Five Tips for Treating Cat Permethrin Toxicosis Flea season is hard enough to handle when treating flea allergy dermatitis, helping an owner get control over a household flea infestation, or treating kittens with flea bite anemia. The chemical affects the cat’s nervous system causing tremors/shaking, twitching, oversensitivity to touch and sound, walking as though drunk and, in severe cases, seizures or fits. There were greasy patches of fur where the flea product had been applied. How can we prevent cats suffering from permethrin poisoning? Why can permethrin be used in products for dogs but not for cats? 2000 Nov 25;147(22):639. The effect of Permethrin almost comes soon after the dose is over. Toxicity occurs as a result of an insufficient glucuronide conjugation of the permethrin by the feline liver, resulting in high levels of the permethrin. Permethrin can affect insects if they eat it or touch it. The cat will then become sensitive to the sound, losing its ability to balance. That means there are many situations that could put your dog and other animals at risk of illness or death. Call our 24-hour veterinary diagnostic and Over the next day, the dose of sedation was slowly reduced until he regained consciousness. Some popular fall plants like mums can be toxic to pets—find out which of these ten autumn beauties might be dangerous to dogs, cats, or horses. Some cats had been inadvertently treated with a dog preparation while others had been in contact with dogs that had been treated. Here are five important issues to remember when dealing with kitty permethrin cases: What were the 10 most frequently called-about issues to the APCC in 2013? Read the APCC's list. Permethrin poisoning in cats can be prevented by always reading and following label instructions before using a flea or tick product on your pet. ... because permethrin (a pyrethroid) is highly toxic to cats and is found in many insecticide and pest control products (e.g. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. In the body, these chemicals slow the closure of sodium and chloride channels, resulting in hyperexcitability. A retrospective analysis of all adverse experience reports received by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority's Adverse Experience Reporting Program for veterinary medicines since 1995, showed that permethrin toxicity in cats usually occurred after the owner applied a canine permethrin‐containing product, typically a spot‐on. 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