If your cat ate a raw sardine:
- Monitor for symptoms of anisakiasis: This parasitic infection can occur if the sardine was infected with anisakis larvae. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lethargy. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Watch for signs of heavy metal poisoning: Sardines can contain high levels of mercury, which can be toxic to cats. Symptoms of mercury poisoning include tremors, weakness, incoordination, and seizures. If your cat shows any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If your cat ate a cooked sardine:
- Monitor for gastrointestinal upset: Cooked sardines are generally safe for cats to eat, but they may cause gastrointestinal upset in some cats. Symptoms of gastrointestinal upset include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. If your cat shows any of these symptoms, discontinue feeding sardines and contact your veterinarian.
- Be aware of bones: Cooked sardines may contain small bones, which can be a choking hazard or can cause gastrointestinal injuries if swallowed. Supervise your cat while they are eating sardines, and remove any bones that you see.
In either case:
- Contact your veterinarian: If you have any concerns about your cat’s health after eating a sardine, contact your veterinarian for advice.
- Provide plenty of fresh water: This will help to flush out any potential toxins from your cat’s system.
- Avoid feeding sardines to your cat regularly: Sardines are not a complete and balanced diet for cats, and feeding them too frequently can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
The article was created by AI.
We received responses from Google Gemini to the following questions.
My cat ate an “sardine”. What should I do? Answers should be in English.
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