Permethrin poisoning is one of the most commonly reported poisonings in cats worldwide.
Permethrin is a commonly used insecticide that is safe around most animals, but cats are much more sensitive to this chemical than other animals.
Concentrated permethrin-containing spot-on products are widely available from shops in many countries for control of fleas on dogs.
Unfortunately it is these products that are often responsible for poisoning of cats when they are accidentally used on cats, or even when cats come into close contact with recently treated dogs.
Signs of permethrin poisoning can be life-threatening and include severe muscle tremors and uncontrolled seizures.
Up to 40% of affected cats may die or need to be euthanased – prompt diagnosis and veterinary treatment are important to alleviate suffering and improve the chances of survival.
Better labelling of permethrin-containing products and better controls over their sale would do much to reduce the high numbers of cases of poisoning that are seen in cats.
Permethrin poisoning is one of the most commonly reported poisonings in cats worldwide.
Permethrin is a commonly used insecticide that is safe around most animals, but cats are much more sensitive to this chemical than other animals.
Concentrated permethrin-containing spot-on products are widely available from shops in many countries for control of fleas on dogs.
Unfortunately it is these products that are often responsible for poisoning of cats when they are accidentally used on cats, or even when cats come into close contact with recently treated dogs.
Concentrated permethrin-containing spot-on products are widely available from shops in many countries for control of fleas on dogs.
Unfortunately it is these products that are often responsible for poisoning of cats when they are accidentally used on cats, or even when cats come into close contact with recently treated dogs.
Signs of permethrin poisoning can be life-threatening and include severe muscle tremors and uncontrolled seizures.
Up to 40% of affected cats may die or need to be euthanased – prompt diagnosis and veterinary treatment are important to alleviate suffering and improve the chances of survival.
Up to 40% of affected cats may die or need to be euthanased – prompt diagnosis and veterinary treatment are important to alleviate suffering and improve the chances of survival.
Better labelling of permethrin-containing products and better controls over their sale would do much to reduce the high numbers of cases of poisoning that are seen in cats.
Signs of permethrin toxicity
Exposure to even small quantities of concentrated permethrin can cause severe and fatal poisoning in cats. After exposure to permethrin, signs of toxicity usually develop within a few hours, but in some cases can take one to three days to become apparent. Common clinical signs of toxicity include:
- Muscle tremors
- Twitching
- Seizures (as shown in the accompanying video clip)
- Salivation
- Incoordination
- Fever
- Dilated pupils
Unfortunately many cases of permethrin toxicity result in death of the cat, and from recorded cases anywhere between 10% and 40% of poisoned cats may die or need to be euthanased because of the severity of the poisoning.
How do cats become poisoned with permethrin?
Exposure to even small quantities of concentrated permethrin can cause severe and fatal poisoning in cats. After exposure to permethrin, signs of toxicity usually develop within a few hours, but in some cases can take one to three days to become apparent. Common clinical signs of toxicity include:
- Muscle tremors
- Twitching
- Seizures (as shown in the accompanying video clip)
- Salivation
- Incoordination
- Fever
- Dilated pupils
Unfortunately many cases of permethrin toxicity result in death of the cat, and from recorded cases anywhere between 10% and 40% of poisoned cats may die or need to be euthanased because of the severity of the poisoning.
How do cats become poisoned with permethrin?
Cats are usually poisoned by permethrin following exposure to the concentrated permethrin spot-on products designed to control fleas and ticks on dogs.
Many different flea spot-on products and shampoos/rinses that are manufactured for use on dogs contain permethrin. These products are safe to use on dogs, but not on cats.
Unfortunately, concentrated permethrin-based flea spot-on products are often inexpensive and widely available. Problems usually occur when owners buy products from shops where nobody is available to explain their safe use. Although the outer packaging of these products often contain warnings not to use them on cats, these may be missed. Often, owners do not realise that the products can cause fatal toxicity to cats. A dog product may be accidentally used on a cat, or sometimes owners mistakenly think that a product so widely available would not cause severe problems and may treat a cat with a small amount of the dog product, often with fatal results.
Another important way cats can become poisoned is when a dog in a house is treated with a permethrin-based spot-on and a cat then sleeps next to the dog, cuddles up to the dog or grooms the dog. This can lead to enough permethrin being absorbed by the cat to cause severe poisoning. It is recommended that cats are kept away from dogs for at least 72 hours after a concentrated permethrin spot-on has been used on a dog.
Although many products contain permethrin (including some fly sprays, ant powders etc.) it is usually only the flea spot-on preparations that contain high concentrations of permethrin and are therefore likely to cause significant toxicity to cats.
Cats are usually poisoned by permethrin following exposure to the concentrated permethrin spot-on products designed to control fleas and ticks on dogs.
Many different flea spot-on products and shampoos/rinses that are manufactured for use on dogs contain permethrin. These products are safe to use on dogs, but not on cats.
Unfortunately, concentrated permethrin-based flea spot-on products are often inexpensive and widely available. Problems usually occur when owners buy products from shops where nobody is available to explain their safe use. Although the outer packaging of these products often contain warnings not to use them on cats, these may be missed. Often, owners do not realise that the products can cause fatal toxicity to cats. A dog product may be accidentally used on a cat, or sometimes owners mistakenly think that a product so widely available would not cause severe problems and may treat a cat with a small amount of the dog product, often with fatal results.
Another important way cats can become poisoned is when a dog in a house is treated with a permethrin-based spot-on and a cat then sleeps next to the dog, cuddles up to the dog or grooms the dog. This can lead to enough permethrin being absorbed by the cat to cause severe poisoning. It is recommended that cats are kept away from dogs for at least 72 hours after a concentrated permethrin spot-on has been used on a dog.
Although many products contain permethrin (including some fly sprays, ant powders etc.) it is usually only the flea spot-on preparations that contain high concentrations of permethrin and are therefore likely to cause significant toxicity to cats.
Diagnosis of permethrin poisoning
Diagnosis of permethrin toxicity is usually made on the basis of typical clinical signs, and known or suspected exposure to a permethrin-containing insecticide.
Diagnosis of permethrin toxicity is usually made on the basis of typical clinical signs, and known or suspected exposure to a permethrin-containing insecticide.
Prognosis
Although the majority of cats with permethrin poisoning survive, this depends on the severity of the poisoning and in reported cases between 10% and 40% may die or need to be euthanased due to the severity of the signs, or the development of complications.
Although the majority of cats with permethrin poisoning survive, this depends on the severity of the poisoning and in reported cases between 10% and 40% may die or need to be euthanased due to the severity of the signs, or the development of complications.
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