Emergency Guide: What to Do If Your Cat Swallowed a For

Symptoms: Nausea without any vomiting; fatigue; anorexia; difficulty breathing and cyanosis (oxygen deprivation can cause the tongue, oral mucosa, and gums to turn blue or purple).

Treatment for Ingestion of Foreign Objects

1. Removing the Object: If you see a foreign object stuck in the cat's mouth, use tweezers or your finger to carefully remove it. However, be cautious not to move it unnecessarily, as this could injure the cat's mouth. Secure the cat's head to prevent any movement.

2. Oxide Peroxide Solution: If the cat has swallowed a foreign object and it is not a sharp or caustic substance (such as acids, alkaline products, or petroleum products), you can use an oxide peroxide (hydrogen peroxide) solution as an emergency treatment. Administer 12 ml of a 3% solution per kilogram of body weight within one hour of ingestion. Since cats are unlikely to swallow voluntarily, use a dropper to pour the solution from the end of the mouth, and gently close the mouth and push upwards to encourage swallowing.

3. Endoscopic Extraction: If it is confirmed that the cat has not vomited up the foreign object and it is unlikely to pass naturally as feces, an endoscope and forceps can be used to remove the object from the body. In cases where the foreign object is large, surgery may be necessary.

4. Gastric Lavage: This procedure involves inserting a tube into the mouth or nose and forcibly injecting saline solution to flush the stomach. Position the mouth below the chest, then inject and breathe out 1520 times until the fluid becomes clear. This is typically performed in emergency situations when the cat does not respond to emetics or has ingested lethal toxins.

5. Adsorbents: Active charcoal, which has the property of adsorbing toxic substances and preventing their absorption from the intestines, can be used. It is effective for organic phosphates, atropine, ethylene glycol (antifreeze), arsenic, and pesticides, but not for cyanide. Mix 1 to 8 grams of active charcoal per kilogram of body weight with water to form a suspension and administer it using a gastric tube, as it has a bitter taste.

6. Laxatives: The purpose of using laxatives is to expel the active charcoal, which has adsorbed toxic substances, from the body as quickly as possible. Commonly used laxatives include sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, sorbitol, and lactulose. Castor oil is contraindicated in acute poisoning, as it may accelerate the absorption of lipophilic drugs.