Lead Poisoning in Cats

Plumbism in Cats

Lead poisoning is rare in cats, but it does happen and it should be considered an emergency. Exposure typically occurs when the cat ingests objects that contain lead.

If the cat eats a sufficient amount of lead all at once, it will lead to acute, or sudden onset, symptoms. If the cat has, on the other hand, been exposed to small amounts of lead over an extended period, the symptoms develop more slowly.

What to Watch For

Acute symptoms include vomiting and abdominal pain, possibly diarrhea. Signs of long-term exposure to lead may begin as gastrointestinal issues, but will progress to:

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Lethargy
• Unsteady or uncoordinated movement
• Seizures
• Changes in behavior, such as becoming depressed or aggressive
• Blindness

Primary Cause

• The most common source for lead is paint chips and dust from home remodeling projects.

Immediate Care

If you suspect your cat ate something that contains lead, contact your veterinarian. In most cases you will be told to induce vomiting in your cat, but be aware that some lead containing substances are caustic and should not be vomited.

If recommended by your veterinarian, you can induce vomiting by giving your cat a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide orally. If your cat does not vomit after 10 minutes, repeat the dosage then take your cat to your veterinarian.

Veterinary Care

Diagnosis

If you observed your cat swallowing a lead-containing object, diagnosis is straightforward. If not, more extensive testing will be needed. Because the symptoms of lead poisoning are non-specific, blood and urine tests will be done to rule out other problems. In addition, blood tests specific for lead will be done.

Abdominal X-rays will be taken to make certain there is no lead-containing material left in the digestive tract.

Treatment

If there is any lead remaining in the digestive tract, it needs to be removed -- if necessary, by surgery. Removing the lead that has already been absorbed, meanwhile, requires a process called chelation therapy. This involves giving a medication either orally or by injection that absorbs the lead so it can be excreted out of the body.

Other medications, like anticonvulsants, may be needed to treat the symptoms. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, hospitalization may be required.

Other Causes

Other potential sources of lead include:

• Lead weights used for fishing
• Lead shot used for hunting
• Some plumbing and roofing materials
• Some batteries
• Solder 

Living and Management

It may take many weeks of repeated therapy to remove enough lead to prevent relapses, even if all lead has been removed from the cat’s environment. And even if the treatment is successful, there may be some permanent damage to the nervous system like recurring seizures or blindness.

Prevention

Just as you would for a child, keep all lead containing objects out of your cat’s reach. Check for paint chipping or peeling. Be sure your cat is not exposed to any dust or debris created by home remodeling projects.