Cat Owners - Heads up

[Nors]

I am an avid dog and cat owner and want to get the word out on a hidden risk out there for cats......

BEWARE over the counter tick medicine that is applied to a cats back. It is extraodinarily toxic and is killing thousands of cats a year that suffer allergic reactions and or lick it off into bloodstream and suffer near fatal to fatal poisonings.

It's also CRITICAL to never give a dogs Tick medicine to a cat. Its a near fatal mistake. Its far more prevalaent and happening and a simple mistake here will kill your cat.

My wife made this mistake last night and applied wrong medicine on 2 of our cats and it was a very distressing situation what this tick medicine can do to a cat. Full Nervous system breakdown and tremors/loss of motor functions.

Luckily we caught it quick and had immediate attention and Cats appear to likely survive this.


If this post brings any awareness to issue I feel better.

[Nors]

Look in the Dr's Bag monthly for new articles
and information on animal health issues.

Warning for Cat Owners about
Flea and Tick Products

The following information comes from the ASPCA.

Never use flea and tick medicine for dogs on cats. If the label says "for use on dogs only," believe it - putting it on your cat could be deadly. "As different as dogs and cats" was never truer; flea control products that can be used safely for dogs can be fatal to cats, even in small amounts.


“...even a few drops of concentrated
permethrin could be lethal to a cat.”

An example of such a species difference is permethrin sensitivity in cats. There are over 18 brands of permethrin spot-on products available that are labeled for "dogs only." These contain high concentrations (45-65%) of permethrin insecticide and are used for flea and tick control. These permethrin products have a good margin of safety when used on dogs, but even a few drops of concentrated permethrin could be lethal to a cat. Cats are most commonly exposed to these products through inappropriate application by their owners. The signs commonly seen with permethrin toxicity in cats include generalized tremors, muscle fasciculation and seizures. Signs can develop within hours or may be delayed up to 48 hours.

Most cats will recover with prompt and aggressive veterinary treatment, including tremor control with intravenous methocarbamol. The best way to avoid serious problems is always always use products strictly according to their label directions.

[Heisenberg]

Jeez. Thanks for the post. We had some of the flea/tick stuff for the dog and I literally was considering using just a drop on the cats. Ugh. How horrible that would have been.

[Faerluna]

I work with a feral cat TNR (trap, neuter, release) group and they use dog Frontline for the strays regularly, as well as for their own housecats. They have used it on literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cats with no ill effects.

Also, you don't use the entire product on one cat. One dog application is good for about 8 cats. This is also a "prescription" treatment, though, not an over the counter type, which may be another difference.

There's always a chance that anything will have an ill effect and it's always best to keep an eye on your pets after giving any type of medication.

[Nors]

Originally Posted by Faerluna

I work with a feral cat TNR (trap, neuter, release) group and they use dog Frontline for the strays regularly, as well as for their own housecats. They have used it on literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cats with no ill effects.

Also, you don't use the entire product on one cat. One dog application is good for about 8 cats. This is also a "prescription" treatment, though, not an over the counter type, which may be another difference.

There's always a chance that anything will have an ill effect and it's always best to keep an eye on your pets after giving any type of medication.

Yes - appears you were using a prescribed medicine that may be fine. The OTC version of a dog medicine here was very toxic to my cats (accident), and research shows that 6-10 thousand cats a year die of this type poisoning.

[theogt]

Nope. No quotes here. Let's keep looking!

[Hostile]

Originally Posted by theogt

Nope. No quotes here. Let's keep looking!

You sick

[Faerluna]

Originally Posted by Nors

Yes - appears you were using a prescribed medicine that may be fine. The OTC version of a dog medicine here was very toxic to my cats (accident), and research shows that 6-10 thousand cats a year die of this type poisoning.

Wow - thats sad and scary! Thanks for passing this information on.

[Nors]

Pyrethrin & Pyrethroid Poisoning in Cats


What is pyrethrin/pyrethroid what are they used for?

Pyrethrin is a natural extract of the African chrysanthemum flower. There are six individual chemicals pyrethrin I and II, cinevin I and II, and jasmolin I and II, collectively known as pyrethrins.

Pyrethrins break down quickly in the environment, especially when exposed to natural sunlight. They are approved for use on both dogs & cats & can be found in many shampoos, sprays, dusts, dips, spot-on flea & tick products & household insecticides.

Pyrethroids are manufactured chemicals which are similar to pyrethrins but are more toxic to insects & mammals. They also last longer in the environment. While pyrethrins are safe to use in cats, in the correct dosage, pyrethroids are not safe due to the low tolerance cats have towards them. The active ingredient of pyrethroids is permethrin.

Both pyrethrins & pyrethroids kill insects by severely disrupting nerve function.

How do cats become poisoned?

Poisoning is usually the result of application of a spot-on product containing pyrethrin or pyrethroid being used.

Pyrethrin poisoning usually occurs when the cat is given a dose greater than the recommended amount.

Pyrethroid poisoning happens when the cat is inappropriately treated with a product labelled for dogs. The problem is even worse if the cat licks the product off, ingesting it along the way.
Another possible risk is if a flea/tick product containing pyrethroid is applied to a dog, who then comes into close contact with a cat.

What are the effects of pyrethrin & pyrethroid poisoning in cats?

Excessive salivation

Ear flicking

Ataxia (loss of coordination)

Depression

Lethargy

Muscle tremors

Seizures (can cause brain damage if prolonged)

Hyperthermia

Death

How is pyrethrin/pyrethroid poisoning diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made on a physical examination of the cat & a history of recent exposure to insecticides.

How is pyrethrin/pyrethroid poisoning treated?

Treatment will depend on the severity of signs & is aimed at controlling seizures & tremors & supportive care.

Diazepam (valium) & Methocarbamol to control seizures or tremors.

Gas anaesthesia may be necessary for refractory seizures.

Once the cat has been stabilised it can be bathed it in lukewarm water, with detergent to wash off the residual insecticide.

Intravenous fluids to maintain hydration.

How can pyrethrin/pyrethroid poisoning be avoided?

Avoiding products containing pyrethrins or pyrethroids.

Reading labels on packaging thoroughly.

Follow the manufacturers instructions to the letter. Never give more than the dosage stated on the packet.

NEVER use a flea or tick product for dogs on a cat. Avoid using over the counter flea or tick products. Veterinarian prescribed flea treatments are generally more effective & safer to use on pets.

Speak to your veterinarian & follow his/her recommendations for flea & tick medications.

Carefully monitor your cat after giving any flea/tick medications.

Do not use any flea/tick products on young, pregnant, lactating, old or sick cats without veterinary advise.

If your cat displays any symptoms of poisoning, seek veterinary attention immediately.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioral) in your pets.

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.

[Nors]

I don't really feel a need to link anything here, You by accident apply a dog tick medication to a cat your cat may indeed die if not aggressively treated.

Just a heads up trying to raise awareness to this issue.