Retrospective study of 20 cases of permethrin toxicity in cats treated at an emergency clinic in Brisbane, Queensland from October 2004 to June 2005. It can take up to 24 hours after exposure for your cat to show signs of poisoning, though symptoms can start right away. If you use them in the right strength and amount, they are generally safe for your cat. Sign up for the monthly APCC newsletter here. The cat liver lacks certain proteins (enzymes) that break down some chemicals into harmless forms, meaning that the chemical can accumulate in the cat’s body and cause serious illness. 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 … ... because permethrin (a pyrethroid) is highly toxic to cats and is found in many insecticide and pest control products (e.g. 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. Add to the mix cats who are exposed to permethrin-containing dog products, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. When Jasper arrived he had severe tremors/shaking, was drooling, and was sensitive to sound and touch. While baked bread likely won’t cause a life-threatening problem in pets, raw dough can be fatal. It’s safe to use on dogs but is extremely poisonous for cats. The characteristic of this chemical is its direct effect on the nervous system of cats, so it may cause tremor or stronger seizures. Careful handling was required to be able to place a tube (catheter) into Jasper’s vein and he was given immediate treatment to stop his tremors. Treating Pyrethrin Poisoning Rinse your cat with warm water. Permethrin poisoning can be fatal to cats. Most brands of permethrin "spot-on" products are labeled for"use in dogs only." Visit us on Facebook for daily APCC news and conversation. Overview. 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? Pyrethrins and Permethrin. Many product descriptions do not include the active ingredients and any warnings may not be noticed in the small picture, Always read the instructions carefully and take note of any warnings, If you have dogs and cats in your home, choose a treatment for the dog which does not contain permethrin. The reason cats are sensitive to these compounds is that they are unable to break down these toxins as they lack the liver enzyme to do so. Author(s) : Bessant, C.; Sparkes, A. 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. It’s safe to use on dogs but is extremely … What to Watch For; Drooling; Lethargy; Muscle tremors; Vomiting; Seizures Diagnosis of Permethrin and Pyrethrin Toxicity in Cats 1. Unfortunately, exposure to concentrated permethrin (as in some dog spot-ons) can result in serious illness and even death in cats. Permethrin toxicity in cats Overview Permethrin is a chemical used to treat fleas. 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. If you are worried that your cat may have permethrin poisoning, contact your vet immediately. Initially, Jasper’s tremors reduced in severity. When orally administered to dogs, d -limonene causes vomiting (median effective dose 1.6 mL/kg). Permethrin poisoning is a very distressing condition and completely preventable. Pyrethrin/pyrethroid toxicity in cats is most commonly the result of someone who, in an effort to save time or money, used a pyrethrin/pyrethroid-containing product intended for dogs on their cat(s). This paper reviews permethrin toxicosis and its treatment in cats, incorporating information from the Australian and selected overseas veterinary … 2000 Nov 4;147(19):556. 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. The use of pyrethrins/pyrethroids is very safe in dogs; however, cats and fish are very sensitive to pyrethrins/pyrethroids. 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. Vet Rec. Over the next day, the dose of sedation was slowly reduced until he regained consciousness. The dog… Permethrin poisoning in cats can be prevented by always reading and following label instructions before using a flea or tick product on your pet. Read the list and download a poster, What toxins caused the most reported deaths of pets in 2013? Permethrin is used in some flea spot-on products made for dogs, and occasionally (in lower doses) in flea powders and collars for cats. The most common way cats are poisoned is when owners use a dog flea product on their cat in error. Further treatment depends on how badly affected the cat is, but medication often needs to be given to stop the tremors or fits. The majority of cats with permethrin toxicity are exposed to canine concentrated PSO products. Symptoms include severe muscle tremors and seizures. If you have any concerns about any medication, always contact your vet for advice. Drooling and tremors are among the first signs you … Permethrin is most commonly found in dog-only flea control spot-ons, as well as flea collars, shampoos and sprays. Unfortunately, this is not the case and cats can become very unwell even after tiny doses of permethrin. Learn what to do if you’re presented with an animal who has ingested these common people foods. ). The most common symptoms include: PMID: Make sure you buy flea treatment solely designed for cats – it can be easy to pick up the wrong pack when dog and cat treatments are displayed side by side in shops, Be very careful if shopping online. Jasper required intensive nursing care and monitoring. Tick and flea treatments for dogs are highly concentrated and should NEVER be used on cats. treatment hotline: Five Tips for Treating Cat Permethrin Toxicosis, © 2020 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Unlike dogs, cats lack the enzyme needed to detox products containing permethrin or pyrethrum. Click Yes to help us continue to make these improvements. No antidote is available. Author Affiliation : FAB/ESFM, Taeselbury, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6LD, UK. Comment on Vet Rec. What is permethrin? Please consider making a contribution, big or small, to keep our content free, accurate and relevant. The inclusion of piperonyl butoxide in the formulation potentiates the toxicity in cats. The permethrin will stay on the dog’s skin and coat for some time and when a cat grooms or even rubs against the dog, or simply sits on the same furniture, it can be poisoned. Whether or not a pyrethrin or pyrethroid product is toxic depends on the animal species involved, as well as the concentration, synergists and carriers used in the product. This is because insects can't break it down as quickly as people and dogs. 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. This difference in drug metabolism is why we must never assume that a drug or product which is safe for dogs will be safe to use for cats. Even worse is the fact that loving owners can accidentally poison their cats by using dog flea spot-on products containing permethrin because they do not recognise the dangers. Application of permethrin-based insecticide to a cat will usually result in toxic signs within 6 hours. The regions of his fur where the dog spot-on had been applied were clipped and he was washed with a mild dishwashing detergent. This prevents mutual grooming or even the pets sleeping next to each other, which could result in poisoning if your cat became exposed. Given the effects on sodium and chloride channels, clinical … Permethrin toxicity in cats. The main signs were convulsions, tremor, hypersalivation, mydriasis, and ataxia. Permethrin poisoning is one of the most common causes of poisoning of cats worldwide and it can be life threatening in many cases. 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. At this stage, he still had facial and limb twitches. Toxicity occurs as a result of an insufficient glucuronide conjugation of the permethrin by the feline liver, resulting in high levels of the permethrin. These do not contain a toxic level of permethrin for cats. In the body, these chemicals slow the closure of sodium and chloride channels, resulting in hyperexcitability. If your cat is suffering from pyrethrin … Permethrin toxicity in cats. 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. If dogs are treated with flea products containing permethrin then they should be kept away from cats for 72 hours. Permethrin is a pyrethroid, a synthetic pyrethrin. 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. The following day Jasper was discharged from hospital. Researchers fed dogs and mice permethrin for up to 2 years and found that their livers increased in weight. Allergies have also been reported in people in contact with d -limonene, and it appears to increase dermal absorption of some chemicals. Permethrin is only found in dog-specific flea treatments because it’s highly toxic to cats and fish. Six hours later Jasper was found unable to stand, drooling and was shaking severely. 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. Cats are also at risk from grooming or being in direct contact with recently treated dogs. 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