Mercury poisoning in cats is uncommon however can have extreme results in cats. Alexey V Smirnov / Shutterstock.com
Fast Overview: Mercury Poisoning in Cats
Mercury poisoning in cats is uncommon – fortunately far much less frequent than it was once. Regardless of its rarity, any such poisoning can have severe, and typically deadly, results in cats, even with remedy. Mercury poisoning also can mimic different circumstances in cats, comparable to feline panleukopenia virus (also called feline parvovirus), so solely a veterinarian can precisely diagnose this situation.
We’ll undergo what causes mercury poisoning in cats, what signs to search for, and the way to deal with and forestall it.
Causes of Mercury Poisoning in Cats
Consuming tuna is a typical supply of natural mercury poisoning in cats. Nataly Studio / Shutterstock.com
Mercury poisoning in cats often happens when a substance excessive in mercury, like tuna, is consumed. Nevertheless, it can be brought on by inhaling mercury vapors.
There are three varieties of mercury, every of which causes poisoning otherwise.
1. Elemental Mercury
Elemental mercury is present in on a regular basis home items like thermometers and fluorescent mild bulbs. It’s poorly absorbed by the pores and skin, however its vapors are extremely poisonous to cats. For instance, if a fluorescent mild bulb breaks in your house and your cat inhales the mercury vapors, these vapors are quickly absorbed in your cat’s lungs, inflicting extreme and infrequently deadly signs.
2. Inorganic Mercury Salts
Inorganic mercury salts are present in gadgets like batteries and latex paints. It’s poorly absorbed if ingested. In small quantities, comparable to a tiny lick of paint, inorganic mercury will not be poisonous to cats. Nevertheless, any such mercury is corrosive to the digestive system if ingested in massive quantities, inflicting fast and extreme digestive upset.
3. Natural Mercury
Natural mercury is discovered within the atmosphere. Inorganic mercury is transformed into natural mercury, which tends to build up in water, soil, and rocks. Marine animals accumulate natural mercury of their our bodies within the type of methylmercury, which could be very poisonous to cats.
Marine predators on the high of the meals chain (e.g., sharks) and tuna comprise excessive ranges of mercury. When cats eat tuna and different mercury-containing seafood over an extended interval, the natural mercury accumulates of their our bodies, ultimately resulting in poisoning. The buildup is within the mind, kidneys, liver, and muscle.
Mercury poisoning in cats is most steadily resulting from consuming massive quantities of seafood, primarily tuna, that comprises natural mercury. Poisoning from elemental and inorganic mercury is uncommon in cats.
Signs of Mercury Poisoning in Cats
Despair is a symptom of mercury poisoning in cats. Kachalkina Veronika / Shutterstock.com
A number of elements decide the signs of mercury poisoning in cats:
- Sort of mercury
- Period of publicity
- How a lot mercury was ingested
We’ll undergo the signs in line with the kind of mercury, beginning with natural mercury.
Signs of Natural Mercury Poisoning
Signs of natural mercury poisoning take a minimum of a number of days to turn into obvious. As a result of natural mercury will not be corrosive, cats with this mercury poisoning is not going to expertise digestive upset. Listed here are the signs to search for with natural mercury poisoning:
- Incoordination
- Ataxia (wobbly gait)
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Despair
- Anorexia
- Paralysis
- Blindness
- Pleasure
- Irregular habits
- Inflexible hindlimbs
- Muscle weak point
- Nystagmus (involuntary eye actions)
- Exaggerated limb motion
Younger kittens are particularly inclined to natural mercury poisoning as a result of their nervous methods are nonetheless creating. A younger kitten with natural mercury poisoning will possible develop cerebellar hypoplasia, which is underdevelopment of the cerebellum. Cerebellar hypoplasia causes signs like a wobbly gait and lack of coordination.
Signs of Elemental Mercury Poisoning
Cats that inhale elemental mercury vapors quickly develop extreme and infrequently deadly respiratory issues.
Signs of Inorganic Mercury Poisoning
Signs of inorganic mercury poisoning additionally develop quickly and are listed beneath:
- Ache
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Infected mouth and esophagus
- Sudden dying
- Issue respiratory
Excessive ranges of publicity to inorganic mercury will be deadly inside hours.
The signs of mercury poisoning are additionally seen with different circumstances, comparable to feline parvovirus, mind tumors, and insecticide poisoning. Due to this fact, a prognosis of mercury poisoning in cats requires a veterinary analysis.
Analysis of Mercury Poisoning in Cats
Analysis of mercury poisoning requires a veterinary examination. Maria Sbytova / Shutterstock.com
Take your cat to your vet as quickly as attainable should you suspect they’ve mercury poisoning. If remedy is warranted, beginning early can decrease the quantity of mercury the physique absorbs.
A prognosis of mercury poisoning in cats is often made utilizing historical past, medical indicators, and routine lab work.
Your vet will ask you about attainable sources of mercury publicity, together with weight-reduction plan and family merchandise. They may even ask you about your cat’s signs, together with when the signs first appeared and what they’re. The extra data you present your vet, the higher. Routine lab work consists of bloodwork and urinalysis. Bloodwork could reveal proof of kidney injury, whereas urinalysis can point out the presence of inorganic mercury within the urine.
Nevertheless, a definitive prognosis requires a tissue pattern to measure mercury ranges within the tissue.
Remedy for Cats With Mercury Poisoning
Remedy for mercury poisoning in cats is commonly unrewarding, and the prognosis could be very poor. Loss of life can occur inside hours or poisoning with inorganic or elemental mercury, so remedy should start as quickly as attainable.
With natural mercury poisoning, injury to the mind and kidneys is commonly irreversible. Even when a cat recovers, the organ injury will probably be so debilitating that euthanasia could also be the most suitable choice.
Listed here are the remedy choices for mercury poisoning in cats:
- Activated Charcoal: Prevents absorption by binding the mercury. It’s most useful quickly after publicity.
- Antioxidants: Vitamin E, selenium and different antioxidants may help restrict the mobile injury brought on by mercury absorption.
- Chelation: A course of that binds mercury within the blood. Like activated charcoal, it will likely be simplest quickly after publicity.
Stopping Mercury Poisoning in Cats
Given the poor outcomes with remedy, stopping mercury poisoning is one of the simplest ways to go. Listed here are some methods for stopping it:
- Don’t feed your cat tuna day by day
- Restrict your cat’s tuna consumption to lower than 10% of their weight-reduction plan
- Keep away from cat meals with albacore tuna, which tends to be excessive in mercury
- Don’t feed kittens a weight-reduction plan that comprises seafood
- Block entry to home items that comprise mercury
Often Requested Questions
Ought to I fear about my cat consuming fish?
The varieties of fish in cat meals, particularly tuna, comprise mercury. Nevertheless, you don’t must remove fish out of your cat’s weight-reduction plan. Restrict your cat’s tuna consumption to not more than 10% of their weight-reduction plan, and don’t feed tuna to them every day.
You may also rotate your cat’s protein sources to restrict their mercury publicity; freeze-dried minnows and sardines are good alternate options to tuna.
My cat loves tuna. Ought to I be involved about mercury buildup?
It is dependent upon how a lot tuna your cat eats. In case your cat eats primarily tuna every day, it’s affordable to be involved about the opportunity of mercury poisoning. In case your cat eats tuna solely sometimes, then the danger of mercury poisoning is comparatively low.
Speak to your veterinarian in case you are involved about how a lot tuna your cat eats.
Is it protected to offer my cat an omega-3 fatty acid complement?
Fish oil is a superb supply of omega-3 fatty acids, however chances are you’ll marvel if these dietary supplements additionally comprise mercury. Fortuitously, omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplements for cats are examined for the presence of harmful compounds like mercury.
You may really feel assured that giving your cat this complement is protected. All the time seek the advice of along with your vet earlier than giving your cat any dietary supplements.
