Even though the holidays are fun and a treat for humans, some of our four-legged friends may be a little more at risk during the celebrations. But is it true that Easter lilies are poisonous to cats, and what can we do if we feel that one of our cats has eaten one?
Easter lilies are highly poisonous to cats. Even if your kitty consumes only a small amount of the water from the Easter flower vase, they risk developing severe renal failure and passing within a couple of days. Therefore, you should use extra care while selecting houseplants.
What are Easter Lilies?
The Easter lily is highly regarded for its appearance and fragrance. It has white flowers that look like trumpets and has been a favorite perennial bulb for gardeners for a long time. Because of its relationship with morality and purity, the plant has become a traditional component of the Easter celebration. Despite its widespread use, the Easter lily, or Lilium longiflorum, is toxic to felines and should be avoided at all costs.
Is Easter Lily Poisonous to Cats?
Easter Lilies are famous flower that is often given as gifts or used to decorate for Easter. However, despite its beauty, it poses a significant health risk to our feline friends.
Ingestion of any portion of the Easter Lily, on the other hand, might prove fatal for cats. The pollen from Easter lilies is so dangerous to kitties that even if they lick themselves to remove it, they will eventually become unwell. The end outcome is a severe failure of the kidneys.
Signs and Symptoms of Cats Eating Easter Lilies
Even if you choose not to have lilies in your house or yard to save your furry companion, there are between 10 and 11 million such plants produced annually; therefore, it is essential to be aware of the symptoms and signs that are linked with a feline companion eating a lily.
If a cat consumes any poisonous flower, including an Easter lily, it won’t be long before it starts throwing up. In addition, if your cat has consumed a lily, it may exhibit symptoms of sadness, including diarrhea, a loss of appetite, and dehydration.
You should look out for the following common signs:
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Drooling
- Hiding
- Excessive urination or decreased urination
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Inability to walk
- Kidney Failure
Bring your kitty to the veterinarian as soon as possible if you have any reason to believe it has ingested any component of an Easter lily, even if you only suspect it may have been a petal.
Diagnosis & Treatment
It is essential that timely treatment be administered to cats suffering from lily toxicosis as soon as possible. You will need veterinarian treatment as quickly as possible, especially in an emergency. If therapy is started within the first six hours, there is a strong possibility that your kitty will recover through this illness. After 18 to 24 hours, even if a cat gets treatment, the outlook is not as good.
The sick cat must vomit to clear its gastrointestinal tract as part of the treatment. Activated charcoal is another substance that veterinarians may give to prevent the side effects of poisons. Intravenous fluids must be given for at least 48 hours to prevent or cure kidney failure. To determine whether or not the therapy was successful, your feline friend will need to be hospitalized so that his or her blood chemistry and urine levels may be carefully examined.
Prevention
The most effective method for preventing Easter lily poisoning in your cat is to prevent its access to the plant in the first place. Don’t worry; many other wonderful Easter flowers are safe for your cats, like Easter orchids, daisies, or Easter cactus.
What Should I Do if Cat Eats an Easter Lily?
If you think your kitty has consumed any component of an easter lily, including the flowers, stem, shoots etc., you must take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. In addition, please ensure that you bring over an unopened bag with a sample of the Lilly plant.
If the necessary actions are performed on time, the problem can be effectively treated, the damage can be managed, and it may even be possible to reverse its effects. Nevertheless, even waiting for twenty-four hours can be too much, which might lead to permanent renal failure (kidney failure).
How to Take Care of the Cat After It Has Suffered Kidney Damage?
The risk of renal failure is your primary problem if your cat eats a lily. Even if renal failure can be prevented, treating long-term damage to your cat’s kidneys can be quite expensive.
Your veterinarian may need to request additional diagnostic tests, including a blood chemistry panel, a complete blood count, a urinalysis, and blood pressure testing, to confirm the diagnosis of acute renal failure.
If the result of the tests shows that your cat’s kidneys are severely damaged, he or she may be prescribed a combination of drugs and supplements to improve symptoms such as high potassium levels, poor renal function, high blood pressure, anaemia, gastrointestinal ulcers, high phosphorous levels, and excessive vomiting.
In addition, your cat may require a specialized diet to improve kidney functioning and decrease the biochemical imbalances that occur throughout the body due to damaged kidneys. Due to the significant amount of water contained in canned food, it is quite probable that you will want to start feeding your cat instead of dry food, even though it will be a bit more costly. Under the skin, administering extra fluids is also an option in the most difficult situations.
What Other Easter Treats Can Be Dangerous to My Cat?
It seems to reason that some of the Easter sweets we give our kitties will be harmful to them. However, several Easter top choices are harmful to our felines, which may surprise you.
You should keep your feline friends away from traditional Easter dishes such as:
- Chocolate
- Caffeine
- Sweeteners using Xylitol Alcohol
- meals that are fatty, rich, spicy, or greasy
Of course, we need to be aware that poisonous plants and unhealthy meals for humans are not the only potential threats to our cats.