Page 293 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

16 – THE CAT WITH ACUTE DEPRESSION, ANOREXIA OR DEHYDRATION 285

Miscellaneous. ● Toad poisoning: Bufo marinus (cane toad) is
● Ethylene glycol: signs are described in separate found mostly in South America, southeast
headings below. United States and Hawaii, and Australia. Bufo
– Venlafaxine is a human antidepressant medica- alvarius is found is the southwest United States
tion (serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake and northern Mexico. Signs of poisoning include
inhibitor). It is an emerging toxicosis in that it is profuse salivation, vomiting, arrhythmias,
one of the few human medications that cats vol- hindlimb weakness, a fixed trance-like stare and
untarily ingest. Clinical signs include vomiting, collapse.
polypnea, tachycardia, ataxia, mydriasis and agi- ● Poisonous lizards: Gila monster (Heloderma sus-
tation. pectum) and Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma
– Glow-in-the-dark items contain dibutyl (n- horridum) are found in the southwest United States
butyl) phthalate as a luminescent. It is extremely and Mexico. Envenomation occurs during a tena-
unpalatable and when a cat bites into a glow-in- cious bite with chewing action. Signs of envenoma-
the-dark item it causes marked hypersalivation, tion include painful bite wound, salivation,
frothing, head-shaking, agitation, hyperactivity, lacrimation, urination, defecation, and loss of voice.
aggression and other behavioral changes. The Ingestion of a blue-tailed lizard skink (Eumece
luminescent is of low toxicity and a sufficient egregius) found in the southeast United States may
quantity to cause systemic toxicosis would not cause vestibular signs.
be ingested.
– Liquid potpourri causes poisoning when there
is accidental skin contact and the product is Diagnosis
licked off. The product may contain essential oils
History is often critical to the diagnosis of intoxica-
(irritants and central nervous system depres-
tion.
sants), and/or cationic detergents (corrosives)
that cause more severe signs. Cutaneous and oral Definitive diagnosis can be made by measuring poison-
cavity signs vary from erythema to ulceration. ous principles in vomitus, serum or urine.
Marked hyperthermia may accompany oral
Anticoagulant rodenticide: prolonged prothrombin,
inflammation and precede ulceration. Gastro-
activated partial thromboplastin times, and activated
intestinal signs include dysphagia (esophagitis)
clotting time.
and vomiting, hematemesis, melena, and abdom-
inal pain (gastritis). Esophageal and gastrointesti- Cholecalciferol rodenticide: hypercalcemia and
nal ulceration and perforation may occur. hyperphosphatemia.
Envenomation. Black widow spider (Latrodectus) envenomation:
● Tick bite paralysis: Cats do not appear to be marked elevation in creatinine kinase and aspartate
affected by North American ticks. Ixodes holocy- aminotransferase, and myoglobinuria.
clus in Australia causes rapidly progressive motor
weakness, megaesophagus, mydriasis, tach-
Differential diagnosis
yarrhythmias and dyspnea (various causes).
● Spider bites: Latrodectus spp. (black widow spi- Other causes of acute depression are differential diag-
der in North America, red back spider in Australia) noses. Other differential diagnoses should be consid-
live in warm and temperature regions in all conti- ered for the more specific signs (e.g. hypocalcemia as a
nents. Cats are very sensitive to the venom. Signs of cause of tremors).
envenomation include loud vocalization from pain;
restlessness and polypnea; salivation, vomiting and
Treatment
diarrhea; and muscle tremors and spasms that
progress to flaccid paralysis. The most effective treatments vary with the toxin, and
● Wasp and bee stings: Local angioedema and pain consultation with a toxicology service is recom-
are common signs. Anaphylaxis is rare. mended.