Joanna is an experienced veterinarian working in the UK. Clinical Signs: Vomiting, breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia, Heinz body anemia), blood in urine, weakness, high heart rate, panting If you suspect your pet may have ingested a potentially toxic substance, call the APCC at (888) 426-4435 or contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible. If a cat consumes onion, more than 0.5% of the total body weight will suffer from onion poisoning. The veterinarian will begin the diagnostic process with a physical examination and a review of your cats medical history. Keep your cat comfortable and calm while he regains his strength over the next several days. Knowing the symptoms of Onion Poisoning in dogs is the first step in safeguarding your dogs wellbeing. While your cat can show different symptoms depending on the type of toxin he ate or was exposed to, here are some general signs of poisoning you can watch out for: Vomiting Diarrhea Lethargy Weakness Drooling Increased heart rate Hyperactivity Tremors Difficulty breathing Depression Increased thirst Pale gums Loss of appetite Lack of coordination Death is the most severe. Fettman MJ. In most cases, once the ingestion of the toxin has ceased, the cats bone marrow will begin creating new, healthy red blood cells to replace the previously destroyed cells. Treatment is supportive and includes IV fluids and blood transfusions. A urinalysis, complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry profile and blood smear (stained with new methylene blue) were performed (Table 1). seizures, cardiac issues, age). This applies to both fresh and dried onions as well. Some cats begin to experience symptoms of onion poisoning soon after ingestion, however other cats may not exhibit any symptoms for several days. Initial signs of onion poisoning would be excessive salivating and irritation to the dog's mouth. Your veterinarian will identify if your cat has any signs of being unwell and get them the best treatment. Similar results have been observed with garlic, and it's probably the same for related vegetables.*. Its a plant, which isnt a big part of a cats diet. They will look for external signs of anemia like pale gums, a fast heartbeat or rapid breathing, and a general appearance of dullness. If your cats skin has also come into contact with an onion, the vet will thoroughly bathe and scrub your cat to remove any toxins lingering on the skin. No specific antidote is available for onion toxicity and the condition is mainly treated with supportive care. Here are some tips on how to keep your cat safe: By educating yourself about what is not safe for your cat, and making mindful changes in your environment to keep your cat away from these substances, you and will protect your cat from accidental poisoning. Other treatments are purely supportive and include intravenous fluids and anti-nausea medication. Red blood cells carry vital oxygen around your cats body to the organs and muscles to keep them healthy. The ASPCAs animal poison control site also says that clinical signs include vomiting, panting and high heart rate. Erythrocytes In: Latimer KS, Mahaffey EA, Prasse KW, eds. After cleaning your home, make sure all excess liquid or residue is wiped up or eliminated, and stow the products out of your cat's reach as soon as possible. The diagnostic tool to reveal this clinical sign is called a blood smear, requiring only a small sample of blood from the feline. Improvement following treatment of onion toxicity will be seen within hours to a day, depending on the cats toxic state. Common clinical signs noted after a feline has ingested onion includes: An onion can become toxic to a feline if more than 1 gram per 5 pounds of body weight is ingested. Toxic symptoms can start anywhere from 1 day to 7 days after exposure (huge range here) with the average being 3-5 days. Signs of Onion Poisoning in Dogs If your dog has eaten onions, clinical signs may develop within a day or more. Sniffing onions wont hurt your cat, but it can cause mild eye irritation if they come too close. If the cat does not develop clinical signs and there are no changes in blood work, no further care is needed. No symptoms yet. Since 1978, the veterinary staff at the APCC has experience of handling more than 2 million animal poisoning cases involving pesticides, herbicides, plants, human and animal drugs, heavy metals, and many other potentially hazardous chemicals. Check These 5 Possible Reasons! Onion powder may even be a greater risk since it can be added in large quantities to food as a seasoning. The vet will begin by taking basic tests to look at the cats overall health. In the kitchen, onions that are raw, cooked, powdered, or in granules are all toxic to your cat, even when mixed in food. Unfortunately, the more severe your cats anemia, the worse the prognosis. It may not be immediately obvious that your dog has ingested garlic. Because the pancreas has. When the ingestion is known to have occurred (and prior to onset of clinical signs), treatment focuses on gastrointestinal decontamination. She has 10 years experience in public speaking and media work, and writes for a large number of online and print This could include an ultrasound or x-ray if you are not sure if your cat ate onion. The minimum toxic amount of onion in cats is 1g/5lb, which means .2g/lb. Symptoms of Onion Toxicity in Cats Common clinical signs noted after a feline has ingested onion includes: Panting Elevated heart rate Weakness Hematuria (blood in the urine) Hemolytic anemia / Heinz body anemia (breakdown of red blood cells) Vomiting Diarrhoea Dyspneoa Liver damage Lethargy Contact dermatitis (skin exposure) Collapse Just a bit red around it. If this has happened to your cat, a complete blood transfusion may be necessary. If you suspect that your cat has eaten something toxic including onions, take them to the veterinarian immediately. As you can see, onion is a food appreciated by humans but it is dangerous and toxic for dogs. Raw, cooked, or powdered onion can cause toxicity in your cat if they eat it. Here you can learn more about dog poisoning, including more specific symptoms and first aid. The symptoms of onion poisoning are: Vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal pain Elevated heart rate Weakness Pale gums Excessive drooling Collapsing physically Treatment for onion poisoning in cats If your cat encounters an onion or eats even the smallest quantity, it is recommended that you instantly seek a medical professional's aid. First, onions and garlic cause nausea and other GI symptoms, like vomiting and diarrhea. Call your veterinary clinic and tell them what has happened. The danger comes from how easy onion powder is to disguise in foods that are tempting to your cat. Yes shes still doing fine. When the oxidant, n-propyl disulfide is digested and enters the bloodstream, the body interprets this irregular oxidant as a foreign invader. According to information available in the ASPCA APCC toxicology database, the most common signs reported in cats are vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.10, Some of the common toxic agents that can cause clinical signs similar to onion toxicosis and should be considered as potential toxins in cases such as this one are zinc, copper, propylene glycol, benzocaine, phenazopyridine, dl-methionine, acetaminophen and moth balls that contain naphthalene.2 Other conditions such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia, blood parasites (Mycoplasma haemofelis, Babesia canis, Mycoplasma suis), diabetes mellitus, hepatic lipidosis, hyperthyroidism, lymphoma, neoplasms and other hereditary diseases that affect RBCs should also be considered as differential diagnoses.2, Onion toxicosis is diagnosed based on a history of exposure, clinical signs and laboratory findings.2 Blood tests that can aid in diagnosis include a CBC with a differential and reticulocyte count, evaluation of a peripheral blood smear to detect Heinz bodies in RBCs, a methemoglobin concentration, and a serum chemistry profile focusing on bilirubin concentration and renal values. It can lead to limb weakness, fainting, vomiting, pale gums, decreased appetite, and more. They may experience abdominal pain, which can be hard to notice in dogs. Symptoms of onion poisoning may occur within hours, days, or weeks after your cat has eaten onion. Even a small amount of the bulb, flower, or stem of an onion can trigger a response in your cat. I always cook onions, and my kitten Watson doesnt vomit or collapse, whatsoever. In: Drobatz KJ, Costello MF, eds. These symptoms can continue throughout the illness. Onions are toxic to cats. Talk to the vet about the symptoms you have observed, when they began, and if possible, when your cat consumed onion. The entire time red blood cells are being destroyed, the cats bone marrow is producing new red blood cells, the same as it always does. Hackner SG. All rights reserved. If its the middle of the night, you can call the vets clinic to seek first aid treatment advice. In just a matter of time, a cat will be in a critical condition. Onions have a high toxicity rate to felines. If your dog has eaten onions, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately. According to the ASPCA, onions are of high toxicity to cats, along with dogs and horses. Hello, I would use saline and rinse his eye out. Cats have a high sensitivity for red blood cell oxidation, due to the larger surface area for oxidizing agents to attach to the cell. The feline may be hospitalized and administered intravenous fluid therapy. Assuming each tablespoon of onion was about 15 g, the approximate amount of onion ingested was 11 to 16.6 g/kg. If your cat has any of these symptoms, even if you are unsure if they have eaten onion, you should contact your veterinary clinic for advice. Once symptoms start to appear, therapy is supportive and includes: Fluid therapy: Fluid therapy is useful for maintaining blood pressure and hydration. What's worse, Mize says, is that some . This happens because the red blood cells of cats are hypersensitive to the oxidants that onions contain. the cat was fine and now he is not, however, in some cases, the response can be delayed 24 hours or longer. Your veterinarian will likely ask you to monitor your cat at home for any illness that develops. The signs of poisoning in cats vary dramatically depending on what toxin the cat has been exposed to, the overall health of the cat, how the cat was exposed (ingestion, inhalation, etc. I apologize for the delay in my reply, this venue is not set up for urgent emails. However, it does depend on your cats size compared to the amount of onion they have eaten. It is unlikely that that small amount of onion would have been toxic, but it may have caused some GI upset. Symptoms of toxicosis usually appear 2-5 days after ingestion, because it takes that long for enough red blood cell damage to occur. 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