Paracetamol, a common household medicine that almost everyone keeps on hand because it has low toxicity in humans and is easily accessible, is used to reduce fever and alleviate pain, widely used. However!! This type of medicine is highly toxic to cats. Cats are very sensitive to the toxicity of paracetamol. Even a dose of 45-55 milligrams per kilogram of body weight can cause toxicity. This is because cats lack the enzyme needed to metabolize the drug, leading to increased toxicity. The paracetamol commonly used in households comes in sizes of up to 500 milligrams at once!! This greatly increases the risk of fatal consequences. This type of medicine is also dangerous for dogs. Therefore, medication should not be given to dogs and cats without consulting a veterinarian first.
The severe toxicity affects the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and blood system, causing red blood cells in cats to be destroyed, preventing the transportation of oxygen to various organs, leading to death. Symptoms of toxicity in cats may occur within 4-12 hours after ingestion of the drug, with initial symptoms (1-2 hours after ingestion) including foaming at the mouth, vomiting, depression, difficulty breathing, darkening of the gums, swelling of the face, swelling of the paws, facial swelling, and loss of appetite. Subsequently, liver damage may occur, leading to jaundice, seizures, coma, and death within 18-36 hours.
Therefore, owners should not administer paracetamol to dogs and cats themselves. If necessary, it must be done under the supervision of a veterinarian. Treatment of cats affected by poisoning is often ineffective or less effective than in dogs. However, this depends on the size of the dose received. Initial first aid may include inducing vomiting, administering activated carbon, and immediately taking the cat to an animal hospital.
Not only paracetamol but other medications such as aspirin and antihistamines (CPM) can also lead to death. Therefore, it is absolutely forbidden to administer human medications to animals without consulting a veterinarian. The best course of action when a pet falls ill with anything is to take them to a veterinarian, as pets cannot express pain and discomfort in words like humans can, and they cannot seek medical attention themselves.
Therefore, the best way to help our beloved pets when they fall ill is to have them properly diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.
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