Gladiolus Toxicity in Cats
Toxic Principle: Corm (bulb) contains soluble calcium oxalate crystals
Symptoms:
- Oral irritation (burning, drooling)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of tongue and mouth
- Seizures
- Respiratory depression
Treatment:
1. Remove the Toxic Substance:
- If the cat recently ingested the gladiolus, induce vomiting by giving 1-2 tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide every 15 minutes until vomiting occurs.
- Use activated charcoal to absorb any remaining toxins.
2. Treat Symptoms:
- Administer pain medication (e.g., buprenorphine) for oral irritation.
- Give anti-vomiting medication (e.g., metoclopramide) to prevent further vomiting.
- Administer anti-diarrheal medication (e.g., kaolin-pectin) to control diarrhea.
- Monitor breathing and administer oxygen if necessary.
- If swelling occurs, give corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone) to reduce inflammation.
3. Monitor Closely:
- Observe the cat for the next 24 hours for any signs of distress.
- If any of the symptoms worsen or new symptoms appear, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
Prevention:
- Keep gladiolus bulbs out of reach of cats.
- Supervise cats around plants that are known to be toxic.
Note: The toxicity of gladiolus can vary depending on the amount ingested and the cat’s individual sensitivity. It is important to seek veterinary attention promptly if your cat has eaten any part of a gladiolus plant.
The article was created by AI.
We received responses from Google Gemini to the following questions.
My cat ate an “gladiolus”. What should I do? Answers should be in English.
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