home Audience 12 Is it possible to give activated charcoal to cats: symptoms, need, dosage, advice from veterinarians. How to give a cat activated charcoal? Activated charcoal for diarrhea

Is it possible to give activated charcoal to cats: symptoms, need, dosage, advice from veterinarians. How to give a cat activated charcoal? Activated charcoal for diarrhea

A cat is a rather cautious creature, and it cannot accidentally get poisoned. Unless she is an unintelligent, inexperienced kitten, or her sense of smell is weakened or completely absent. In all other cases, the owners and their careless actions are to blame for the poisoning of cats, for example, improper treatment with potent drugs, or force majeure circumstances from which no one is immune.

Whoever or whatever is to blame for the poisoning of the pet, its owner must detect the first signs in time and provide all possible assistance. After all, the life and health of a cat will largely depend on the correctness and speed of pre-medical manipulations.

We will return to the methods of providing first aid a little later, and now we will briefly dwell on the theory in order to understand the issues of what poisoning is, the causes of its occurrence, and what is the mechanism of action of toxic substances on the body of a fluffy pet.

What is poisoning?

Poisoning can be the result of a bite from poisonous animals.

Poisoning is a disease that occurs under the influence of some poisonous substance on the body of a cat and is accompanied by a violation of its functions.

Poisoning is caused by the ingestion of animal poison:

with water, food;
with air containing vapors of toxic substances;
when bitten by poisonous insects or animals;
through the mucous membrane, skin;
as a result of the introduction of toxic substances intramuscularly or intravenously.

What can be poisoning?

Poisoning by its nature can have a different origin:

feed - the intake of poisons through the mouth with feed that contains some kind of toxic substance;
vegetable - the action of plant poisons;
medication - an overdose of drugs, the use of drugs to which the cat has an individual intolerance, pills that cause allergies, etc.;
poisoning with toxic gases - it can be carbon monoxide, chlorine vapor and other toxic fumes;
poisoning with household chemicals is a rather rare phenomenon, but it also has a place to be.

If we talk about cats, then most often in veterinary practice there are food poisoning.

According to the principle of influence on the body, poisoning can be divided into:

local, when the violation is limited to the place of contact;
general, which is manifested by the defeat of individual organs and systems.

There are acute and chronic poisoning of cats:

Acute occurs as a result of the ingestion of large doses of a toxic substance. It is accompanied by a violation of important functions, which can often end in the death of a pet.
Chronic poisoning is the result of prolonged exposure to a poisonous substance in small doses. There is an accumulation of poison, this leads to depletion of the pet, a decrease in immunity and a weakening of general health.

Signs of Poisoning in Cats

Local signs are due to the action of a toxic substance on the respiratory tract, skin, mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. If absorption has occurred, then the symptoms can be very diverse and depend on the degree of damage to the liver, heart, nervous system and other organs.

Common signs of food poisoning include:

depression of the general condition - the cat prefers to lie more, reacts poorly or practically does not react to external stimuli;
bloody vomiting with an admixture of a large amount of mucus;
bloody-mucous diarrhea - frequent liquid, fetid stools, in very rare cases, feces may smell of poison that caused poisoning or a specific smell, for example, with arsenic or zinc phosphide poisoning, feces and vomit have the smell of garlic;
in some types of poisoning, there is an abundant foamy discharge from the oral and nasal cavities;
thirst.

How to diagnose cat poisoning?

As a rule, the diagnosis of "poisoning" presents some difficulties. Basically, during the life of the animal, much attention is paid to clinical signs, anamnesis analysis, the results of the study of feed, water, cat excretions.

In making a diagnosis, the owner plays a huge role, who will be able to convey to the doctor complete and comprehensive information about the poisonous substance and all those changes in the cat's condition that have been observed over the past few hours.

Treatment of poisoning in cats

Positive treatment largely depends on how quickly first aid was provided.

Therapy for poisoning includes:

Termination of the effect of poison on the body.
Removal of a poisonous substance from the body: washing the stomach and intestines by prescribing emetics, laxatives, adsorbents, diuretics.
Neutralization of poison (use of antidote, antidote).
Symptomatic treatment, depending on the symptoms associated with poisoning.

It is not difficult to guess that the owner of a cat can independently make only two points out of the four available. Measures must be taken as soon as possible after the poison enters the body.

Gastric lavage can be done with a large amount of water with the addition of salt or baking soda.
It would be nice to do an enema, in this case there is a chance to remove toxins from the body several times faster than with a simple gastric lavage.
As emetic drugs, apomorphine or potassium permanganate diluted in water is used. It is desirable to always have these funds.

Activated carbon has always been the best adsorbent.

In case of poisoning, the use of mucous decoctions or enveloping substances (egg white, rice water, tannin solution, etc.) gives a good result. They cover the mucous membrane of the stomach and prevent the absorption of poisons.

After all these events, the cat must be taken to the veterinarian, where you can tell in detail about all the signs that have been observed during the last hours, and also suggest, and maybe say affirmatively, what exactly the cat was poisoned with. It is important not to withhold information; the health of the pet will depend on its completeness. The doctor should also capture samples of vomit and feces, if any.

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Before answering the question: “How to give activated charcoal to a cat?”, It is worth considering other questions. For example, is it worth giving this drug to this cat at all? And, if the decision is positive, then in what doses and how to feed the cat a charcoal tablet without any problems, since he himself, most likely, will refuse to chew it, what kind of animal is this - activated charcoal? And what are the criteria for its use for humans and animals.

Activated charcoal (briefly).

Activated charcoal (lat. Activated charcoal) is obtained mainly from ordinary charcoal after its heat treatment.

Since ancient times, coal and ash have been used in folk medicine for acute poisoning (mainly oral - through the mouth). The greatest effect of the use of coal was noted for the removal of toxic substances, while substances poisoning the body - poisons, have not left the stomach and intestines.

Porous coal absorbs, absorbs into itself, absorbs toxins - absorbs.

Nowadays, starch (for better tablet formation) and grape sugar (dextrose, glucohexose, glucose) are added to the crushed coal powder (“black salt”). Glucose, easily penetrating into the blood, calms and stabilizes the processes of the body, helps to reduce stress, which is inevitable in case of toxic poisoning.

Coal pressed together with glucose is an excellent universal antitoxin, an enterosorbent that activates metabolic processes and stimulates the activity of the liver and kidneys. This is very important for poisoning and infections that have entered the body!

Enriched with glucose, the drug was called "Activated Charcoal".

Available in the form of tablets of 0.25 g, as well as in the form of granules, capsules, pastes, suspensions (water suspension) and powder. Paste, suspension, and powder are the most convenient forms to give activated charcoal to felines, especially if the animal is debilitated or is still a small kitten.

Application in veterinary medicine

After a brief excursion into the pharmacology of activated charcoal, it becomes clear that it is not only possible, but also necessary, to give activated charcoal to cats as a drug for conditions such as:

The processes of fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines - dyspepsia.
Flatulence always accompanying dyspepsia.
Hypersecretion of gastric juice (increased acidity).
Diarrhea.
Poisoning with drugs and other chemicals, especially in their acute stage.
Toxoinfections (dysentery, salmonellosis).
Renal and liver failure.
Allergic reactions.
Metabolic disorders, for example - hypovitaminosis (especially lack of group B and vitamin C).
Food poisoning, including the juice of domestic flowers and plants.
Diarrhea after expulsion of worms.

All of the above are direct indicators of the use of this drug in veterinary medicine, so the question is: “Is it possible to give activated charcoal to cats and cats?” - not even worth it.

It remains to consider in what doses it is possible to take, what are the consequences of the application and decide how to give activated charcoal to a cat, kitten, cat.

Consequences of improper intake of activated charcoal for cats.

Since activated charcoal is still a drug, and not a harmless dietary supplement, that is, it has both contraindications and restrictions. Moreover, contraindications and side effects are the same, both for humans and for any other animal, in particular, cats.

Contraindications:

ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract;
internal bleeding;
taking other medicinal substances, the quality of treatment of which is reduced due to the action of activated charcoal;
chronic kidney damage (possible embolism);
diabetes;
intolerance to glucose or starch.

Side effects of the drug:

qualitatively reduces the absorption of nutrients through the intestinal tract (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, hormones, vitamins, etc.);
leads to prolonged constipation, provoking hemorrhoids and breakthrough diarrhea;
reduces the activity of gastric juice and other substances necessary for the breakdown of food (ipecac, etc.);
the most harmless is the coloring of cat feces black.

Give your pet charcoal for diarrhea! But refrain from this action if your cat or cat suffers from chronic diseases, and the doctor did not advise taking activated charcoal without his advice. And remember: the use of any medicine, this also applies to the black absorbent, must be dosed not only in grams, but also in time.

Since about 20% of all visits by cat owners to the veterinarian with the subsequent appointment of activated charcoal are poisoning, it makes sense to learn to distinguish between types of poisoning and know in what doses and along with what drugs to take it.

Types of poisoning and doses of activated charcoal for cats

Cats are poisoned not because they are stupid creatures, but because they are very curious and sneaky. The proverb "Curiosity kills the cat!" - proof of that.

The second reason is cleanliness. Cats are so meticulous about their hair that if there is a toxic substance on the wool, then it will definitely get into your pet's stomach.

Symptoms of poisoning:

Sudden nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Profuse salivation.
Increased diuresis (increased urination).
Weakness (up to loss of consciousness).
Fever.
Dilated pupils.
Disorder of orientation in space.
Convulsive twitching of the head and limbs.
Heavy, labored breathing.
Cough turning into vomiting.

A combination of 2-3 of these symptoms is enough for you to suspect poisoning in your cat or cat and immediately call the veterinarian for an initial oral consultation. Delay is like death! - in the literal sense, especially if the cause of the poisoning is not established, and there is no time to go to the doctor.

By offering your pet various foods as a home remedy (milk, egg, butter, soda, salt), you can aggravate the situation, and then his death will fall on your conscience.

An effective way to stop the development of poisoning in a cat is the use of activated charcoal.

Dosage of activated charcoal per cat's head

Symptoms of poisoning appear, as a rule, after the poison (poison is NOT acid, alkali or oil products!) From the stomach has already entered the intestines and began to be absorbed into the blood. It takes him about 2 hours to do this. To induce vomiting, if it is not there, in this case it is already useless - only torturing the animal.

Another thing is a cleansing enema with the introduction of a suspension of activated carbon into the rectum.

Solution-suspension for cleansing the intestines: 10-20 g of powder, crushed tablets or granules per 100 ml of warm water (baby syringe).

Such a suspension is suitable for cleansing the cat's body in all forms of poisoning and intoxication.

After carrying out a saving "execution" it will be necessary to give the cat (cat) activated charcoal orally. You will need 1 g of dry powder per 1 kg of animal weight.

Or 3-6 g of activated charcoal per adult cat's head, if the cat weighs within these limits.

For a kitten whose age does not exceed 6 months, 1 tablet will be enough.

Dilute the powder, crushed tablets or paste in warm water to make a mass that resembles liquid sour cream or heavy cream in consistency.

Type this mass into a syringe (without a needle, of course!) And enter the cat (cat) into the mouth.

So we got to the main question: “How to give activated charcoal to a cat?”

Is it easy to do?

No. Like all normal animals, the cat will do its best to prevent this from happening to you.

You have an advantage over a cat - you know that after 3 upper premolars and 2 lower premolars, cats have no further teeth. So, pulling the lips of the cats back, you will find a hollow hole, exactly at the root of the cat's tongue. The pin of the syringe fits perfectly into this hole. The algorithm of your actions will be as follows:

Sit the cat on your lap so that he rests his back against your stomach.
With your left hand, lift his head up, placing your fingers in such a way that you can easily pull the skin of the lip towards the back of the head. It is most convenient if the hand will support the cat's head from below.
With your right hand, gently insert the tip of the syringe into the hole between the jaws and press the plunger.
Do not remove your left hand and do not lower the cat's head until he makes a swallowing movement! Stroke the cat along the neck, this will stimulate him to take a sip.

You will have to repeat a similar procedure with activated charcoal and a sitting cat 4 times with breaks of 2-3 hours. Pour no more than 2 ml of suspension at a time.

After the cat stops vomiting, diluting the powder or tablets with water is no longer worth it - this reduces its ability to adsorb. Try to give the cat a charcoal tablet in whole or in parts, placing it on the root of the tongue.

If necessary, you will pour water in the same way. The daily norm is 1 glass per day.

The doctor will prescribe the rest of the treatment, but the fact that your pet will have to consume activated charcoal for another 5-7 days is for sure! Everything will depend on the diagnosis and the drugs that the doctor will prescribe.

Can I give activated charcoal to a pregnant or lactating cat?

Quite. Activated charcoal itself is not absorbed into the intestines, it is completely excreted from the body, which means that it is safe for the cat itself, and for fetuses, and for suckling kittens. It is not uncommon for cats to have diarrhea after childbirth or vomiting during pregnancy (toxicosis). In both cases, it is not forbidden to give activated charcoal to cats.

Is it possible to cure diarrhea in a cat (cat, kitten) with activated charcoal?

And can it be used as a prophylactic?

Many owners try to feed activated charcoal to their pets (cats, dogs) as a preventive measure against diarrhea. You don't need to do this!

Activated charcoal is good as a symptomatic therapy - it binds and removes toxins from the body, but it is useless as a cure for diarrhea. Diarrhea is eliminated by other drugs, after identifying the causes of its occurrence.

And if you give activated charcoal to cats or dogs as a prophylactic, you will only get side effects (see Side Effects of the Drug).

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Activated charcoal for a cat: when used, dosage

Activated carbon is a well-known sorbent that is used for various poisonings. It has a powerful adsorbing effect. The active component of the drug quickly envelops the mucous tissue of the stomach, which prevents the ingress of harmful substances - salts of heavy metals, narcotic components, poisons, chemicals, toxins - into the bloodstream. The drug is absolutely safe, it is removed from the body unchanged with feces after 7-10 hours, painting them black. The sorbent is assigned to everyone without exception, including infants and the elderly. Can activated charcoal be used on cats?

Activated charcoal tablets

poisoning in cats

Having made the decision to get a cat, the owner must understand that feeding, cleaning the animal's tray and combing it regularly is only half the battle. It is very important if you have a four-legged friend in the house to ensure that he is completely safe. This is especially true for small kittens, who strive to taste something. And this is not necessarily due to the fact that the owner feeds his pet a little. Most likely, teething or a weakened sense of smell are to blame. Therefore, food often enters the stomach of little fidgets, which is not at all intended for a weak and weak organism. Hence, gastric disorders, intestinal in the form of diarrhea, vomiting and other signs of intoxication.

Cat poisoning

It is worth noting that 10% of all cases of contact with veterinary clinics account for the poisoning of pets, which is associated with hunting qualities, their natural curiosity. This leads to the fact that the cat tries on the tooth everything that comes his way - expired products, plants, spoiled food, etc.

Poisoning symptoms in cats are similar to those in humans.

How to understand that an animal has poisoning? Here are the main symptoms:

liquid, watery stools, the frequency of which per day can be from 5 times;
rapid breathing;
refusal to feed;
dark urine color, frequent urination;
dry nose, dilated pupils;
a cardinal change in behavior (an active cat becomes too calm, immobilized, sleeps all the time);
putrid smell from the mouth of the animal, glow in the dark of vomit (observed with phosphorus poisoning);
heavy breathing, excessive salivation, swelling of the tongue and gums (with acid poisoning);
lowering the temperature, ulceration on the oral mucosa, paralysis, uremia (mercury poisoning);
regurgitation, vomiting, in severe cases, convulsions, trembling, loss of consciousness, blanching of the mucous membranes of the mouth are observed (this indicates the onset of dehydration).

If you have one of these signs, you need to sound the alarm. The best option is to contact your veterinarian. If this is not possible, then you need to urgently give the pet activated charcoal. The drug is absolutely harmless to four-legged animals, so veterinarians recommend giving it in case of poisoning - and the sooner the better.

In what cases is prescribed and how the medicine works

Once in the stomach, the drug begins to act immediately. The main component of the drug - coal of plant and animal origin, which has undergone special processing - has a detoxifying effect, that is, it cleanses the body of toxins, toxins and allergens. The action consists in the absorption by particles of coal of a liquid containing toxic substances.

Activated charcoal for cats

Veterinarians recommend taking the medicine within 2 hours of poisoning. The fact is that during intoxication, the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract work in an enhanced mode. This leads to increased production of mucus. In such an environment, the reproduction of bacterial flora occurs faster. Therefore, it is impossible to delay in this case. The body spends too much energy and fluid, which contributes to dehydration.

And if against this background the pet is also fed, then injury to the walls of the stomach and intestines joins the ongoing process. Due to swollen mucous membranes and a lack of beneficial bacteria, nutrients are not absorbed and food is not processed.

The sorbent acts like a sponge that absorbs harmful components. Coal is not absorbed into the blood and is excreted from the body with feces in its original form. The drug does not affect digestion and peristalsis.

Pore structure of activated carbon

In addition, the drug has an antimicrobial effect. It adsorbs and removes bacteria from the intestines, which helps the body cope with the infection faster.

Activated charcoal will help if taken as soon as possible after eating poisoned food. If harmful substances are absorbed into the blood, the drug will not have a therapeutic effect.

The task of the owner in case of intoxication is not to give food, to drink more and not to affect diarrhea and vomiting. It should be remembered that diarrhea and vomiting are natural processes that free the body from harmful substances, so they cannot be prevented.

Dehydration is very dangerous for cats

Important! The owner should be wary if diarrhea and vomiting in a cat occur more often 5-6 times a day. This is fraught with the development of dehydration due to a significant loss of water from the body.

Indications for the use of charcoal for cats:

fermentation and putrefaction in the intestinal cavity, flatulence;
increased acidity of the digestive juice;
diarrhea, vomiting, blood in feces;
allergy;
poisoning with chemicals, drugs, juices of indoor plants;
salmonellosis, dysentery;
vomiting and diarrhea after taking drugs for worms;
liver disease.

Preparations similar to activated charcoal

How to give the drug to animals

Almost all cats resist when the owner tries to give him a pill. Of course, because their unusual taste is far from their favorite food. This will require some ingenuity. Here are the step by step steps.

Put the pet on his knees so that his hind legs rest on the owner's stomach.
Raise the animal's head with the left hand. Pull the lower lip towards the back of the head. In cats, after 4 lower and 6 upper premolars, further teeth are missing. This simplifies the introduction of drugs into the oral cavity. Pulling the lower lip back, at the root of the cat's tongue, you can see a hollow hole into which the ideal syringe enters.
You can not lower the animal's head down and remove your hand until it swallows. To stimulate the swallowing movement, you need to stroke it along the neck.

The cat, before giving the drug, it is important to fix it correctly

If the owner is afraid of being scratched, then you can ask other family members for help or simply wrap the animal in a blanket or towel so that, if possible, he does not release his claws.

The tablet can be given to the cat as a whole. You need to press your fingers on the area between the upper and lower lip. In this case, the head of the animal should be raised. When the pet's mouth opens, a tablet is placed on the root of the tongue. Next, the jaws close. You can not remove your hands until the animal makes a swallowing movement.

Video - how to give pills to cats

After swallowing the tablet, the cat must be given water. He should drink at least 1 glass per day. In order for the drug to help your pet, you should know what dosage is acceptable for him.

What is the dosage of activated charcoal for cats?

It would be nice to give the cat a whole pill. But since this is problematic in most cases, a crushed tablet mixed with water is also suitable for medicinal purposes. The resulting mixture can be given with a small spoon or syringe, after removing the needle. A small sterile syringe is also suitable in this case.

How to give activated charcoal

The dosage of the medicine is calculated depending on the weight of the cat. So, for 1 kg of her body weight, 0.25 g of the active substance (1 tablet) is recommended. Give the four-legged drug should be every 4 hours, but not more than 4 times a day.

For a kitten whose age does not exceed 1-2 months, half a tablet is enough, from 2 to 6 months you can give the whole tablet in 1 dose.

Such a kitten should be given half a tablet of activated charcoal.

It is worth saying that intoxication symptoms, as a rule, are noted after 1-2 hours. During this time, poisons and toxins have time to absorb into the walls of the stomach and intestines. If the animal does not have time to take black coal during this period of time, then this threatens the penetration of harmful substances into the blood.

It makes no sense to induce vomiting after 2 hours - only torturing the cat. In this case, you can put a cleansing enema based on black coal. To do this, 10-15 g of the powder is introduced into a glass with 100 ml of warm boiled water. After the procedure is completed, the cat must be given charcoal orally.

Harm, an overdose of coal for cats

Cats should not be treated with activated charcoal if:

stomach bleeding;
ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract;
sorbent intolerance.

It is worth noting that prolonged use of the drug and excess dosing threaten problems with stools - constipation. Dry and dense feces can form a blockage, which will lead to intestinal obstruction.

Abuse of sorbents can cause problems with stool in an animal

Attention! If the animal does not go to the tray for more than a day, then you should consult with your veterinarian.

If you uncontrollably feed a four-legged pet with coal, this will contribute to the leaching of useful substances, vitamins, minerals from the body, as well as a decrease in the production of gastric juice, the main task of which is the breakdown of fats and proteins.

Pet owners should remember that dark gray coloring of feces is a normal reaction after taking black charcoal.

Activated charcoal darkens cat feces

As for overdose, its main symptom is constipation. How to understand that a cat has problems with stool? Here are the main symptoms of temporary intestinal obstruction:

the animal is pushing in the tray, but the feces do not come out, while the cat may meow loudly;
abdominal pain;
when feeling the pet's abdomen, a seal is noted;
faeces dry and cracked.

To prevent side effects, you should follow the dosage and give the animal water (for 1 tablet 10 ml).

Activated charcoal is safe for pregnant cats

Can I feed charcoal to pregnant or lactating cats?

Veterinarians recommend treating lactating and pregnant cats with charcoal. The active substance of the drug is not absorbed by the gastrointestinal walls and does not penetrate into the blood, and therefore does not pose any danger to kittens in the womb.

Important! Cats should not be given activated charcoal as a preventive measure.

Actions of the owner in case of cat poisoning

To cure poisoning in a cat, you should act quickly and follow a number of recommendations from veterinarians.

At the first symptoms of poisoning, you need to consult a veterinarian

Call the vet.
A poisoned cat should be taken to a well-lit and ventilated place.
Be sure the owner must wear long-sleeved clothes to protect his hands from contact with poisons. After all, cats during illness can show aggression - bite and scratch.
Induce vomiting in a cat. This must be done immediately after the animal has eaten poisonous food. To do this, you need to give your pet 3% hydrogen peroxide to drink (1 tsp per 1 kg of weight). The portion is divided into several receptions. Usually after the second, the cat begins to vomit. You can drink the animal with an emetic root (in the form of syrup, sold in a pharmacy), saline solution.
You should not feed your cat.
After vomiting, give activated charcoal at the rate of 0.25 g per 1 kg of pet's weight.
Drink more water.
If toxic poisons remain on the coat, then it is better to wash the pet so that it does not lick off the remnants of toxic substances.

Attention! If the poisoning is severe, then the dosage of coal can be increased to 1-4 g per 1 kg of the cat's weight. You need to give the medicine every 4-6 hours for 3-5 days.

A cat can become poisoned by catching a rat that has been in contact with the poison.

Activated charcoal and isoniazid poisoning, rat poison

Isoniazid is used by dog hunters to bully cats and dogs. If an animal is accidentally poisoned by this substance, you should:

call the veterinarian
induce vomiting immediately;
feed the animal with a laxative (so that the poison does not have time to be absorbed into the digestive tract);
give activated charcoal (before and after vomiting);
give pyridoxine - vitamin B6 (if haters of animals live in a neighboring apartment, it is better to have this drug in the first aid kit);
give Corvalol - 3 drops per 4 kg of weight;
soak with water.

Check-up at the veterinarian

When poisoning with rat poison, you need:

call the veterinary clinic;
urgently induce vomiting, give an enema or give a laxative;
feed activated charcoal;
use an antidote - vitamin K (necessary for blood clotting);

Table 1. Activated charcoal analogues approved for use in cats for poisoning

Names of analogues The main active ingredient Features How to take cats

Polyphepan	Lingin hydrolysis and activated carbon	Several hundred times greater than the adsorption capacity of activated carbon. Can be taken as a preventive measure.	For diarrhea, 1 teaspoon 30 minutes before meals 3 times a day for 7 days.
Enterosgel	Polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate	Has a lot of contraindications. More successfully removes toxins and allergens from the body of the animal. In case of poisoning, it can help the first time.	½ teaspoon for a kitten, 1 teaspoon for an adult cat. Diluted with water 1:3. It is given 2 times a day before meals for 2.5 hours or after.
Smecta	Dioctahedral smectite	Eliminates diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders after the first application. Does not cause side effects. Has no contraindications	½ teaspoon for a kitten, 1 teaspoon for an adult cat 2 times a day. Diluted with water 1:2.
Polysorb	silicon dioxide	30 times more efficient than activated carbon. High adsorption characteristics. A large number of indications for use. Relieves the animal of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea within 4 minutes.	Diluted with water 20-35 ml of water. The norm is 1 mg per 1 kg of the cat's weight. Can be given up to 5-6 times a day.

Bug venom and activated charcoal

The blister beetle is such a kind of assistant to agricultural workers. Its purpose is the destruction of plant pests. Has a bright red color. The insect never bites. His cunning lies in the release of a toxic substance - contharidin. A few hours after the poison enters the mucous membranes of the mouth, in the gastrointestinal tract (when biting a beetle or swallowing), ulcers with purulent secretions form on the walls, which leads to the imminent death of the pet.

blister beetle

Feeding charcoal immediately after a cat has swallowed an insect increases the likelihood that the animal will survive.

When treating feline poisoning with activated charcoal, the dosage should be observed. The wrong ratio can lead to overdose and unwanted effects, one of which is severe constipation.

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How to give a cat activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is charcoal of animal or vegetable origin that has undergone special treatment. It belongs to the group of medicines used for various kinds of poisoning. It acts as a powerful absorbent that absorbs alkaloids, gases, toxins, poisons, salts of heavy metals and removes it from the body. If its use by a person does not cause any controversy, then many owners of four-legged pets are concerned about questions: how to give activated charcoal to a cat, is it possible to do this at all, will it harm the health of the animal?

Why do cats get poisoned?

If there is a pet in the house, especially a small one, then each owner must understand that his pet is not immune from various unpleasant incidents, in particular, from poisoning. Cats are very inquisitive but cautious animals. They can rarely get poisoned by accident, as they have a very highly developed sense of smell. But for a kitten, such a force majeure may be more likely, since the sense of smell in babies is either completely absent or weakened. Sometimes they like to eat some food that is not at all intended for a fragile stomach, the result of this curiosity can be food poisoning, indigestion with diarrhea.

Many owners are confident that if the cat does not leave the home, then poisoning does not threaten her. This is a typical misconception. According to statistics cited by veterinarians, 10% of all cases of visits to animal clinics are for poisoning. The reason for this may be the natural curiosity and hunting instinct of cats (they like to try new substances, plants), spoiled food, expired food, or even their habit of constantly licking their hair (it is on the fluffy “fur coat” that dangerous substances can get - poorly washed flea shampoo, chemicals).

An adult animal, with its poisoning, in most cases, is “obliged” to its owners, who, with their carelessness, careless actions, endangered the life and health of the pet. This includes improper treatment of a cat with potent drugs or intexicides - preparations for the control of rodents in the house. These products contain pesticides that are unsafe for the body of fluffy pets. The cat is not able to digest them on its own.

The owner of the animal should be aware of the symptoms that will help determine that his pet has poisoning:

The surest and safest way to help a cat with poisoning is to immediately contact a veterinarian. However, this possibility is not always available. If the owner understands that the animal has been poisoned, he can give him activated charcoal, which is available in the medicine cabinet for everyone without exception.

How to give your cat activated charcoal

Veterinarians assure that activated charcoal will not harm the health of the cat, so you can give it. It does not cause side effects, the main thing is to strictly observe the dosage. It is dangerous to engage in self-medication, however, if signs of poisoning appear, the owner must take urgent measures. First, move your pet outside or at least open a window to provide the necessary oxygen supply. Secondly, it is very important to understand what could have caused the poisoning.

If the poison has got on the pet's coat, it must be thoroughly washed off using cool water and ordinary soap. The next step is to give the cat medicine.

Dosage of activated carbon:

adult animals - 1 tablet per 10 kilograms of weight;
kitten - half a tablet.

For better absorption, charcoal is first crushed to a powder state, then diluted with a small amount of boiled water, mixed thoroughly and injected into the cat's mouth with a spoon or syringe (without a needle). If the animal has not lost its appetite, the tablets can be mixed with food.

The drug is very effective in poisoning, even if it is caused by the bite of a blister beetle.

Some cats are very skittish and may refuse to take medication. Here the owner will need some skill. You need to take a blanket or a piece of dense fabric, wrap the pet in it so that it cannot escape or release its claws. First, they wrap the neck under the chin, then the shoulders, after which they “swaddle” the whole body. Thus, only the muzzle of the animal remains unwrapped.

Next, the cat should be put on its knees, so that it looks at the owner, and open its mouth. You can cheat and show the animal something tasty so that his instinct will work, and the pussy has substituted the owner's lower jaw. At this point, you should put the tablet on the root or side of the tongue and close the cat's mouth.

It must be borne in mind that if the pet is unconscious, then it is better to wait for the arrival of the veterinarian and not try to give medicine. Vomiting is absolutely pointless, since most of the toxic substance has already entered the intestines and is absorbed into the blood.

How does activated charcoal affect the body of an animal in case of poisoning. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, the black absorbent neutralizes toxic substances and promotes their removal to the outside along with the feces. Charcoal will need to be given for three to seven days to completely eliminate toxins, depending on the health of the cat. If after a week there is no improvement, you should contact your veterinarian, who will prescribe the appropriate treatment. With severe poisoning, activated charcoal alone is not enough.

During poisoning, the animal needs clean drinking water, as it helps to eliminate harmful substances, reduces the toxic load on the liver and kidneys, and prevents dehydration. With mild poisoning, cats instinctively drink water, but if the stage is severe, then the pet needs to be watered, gradually pouring water into the mouth. The daily rate of water consumption should be 200-250 ml.

What to do if activated charcoal is not at hand. A good alternative is 3% hydrogen peroxide, with which the pet's stomach is washed. The dosage is 1 teaspoon per 2.5 kilograms of animal weight. Peroxide is injected with a spoon or syringe. The cat should be given three times with an interval of 15 minutes.

Some experts believe that activated charcoal should also be given to a pet as a preventative measure to avoid digestive problems, especially if the cat is not a domestic cat. To do this, ¼ of the absorbent is crushed and mixed into the feed. Although many veterinarians do not agree with this point of view, explaining that the animals that the owners let go for a walk on the street, feeling unwell, are treated on their own, looking for creeping wheatgrass - a special plant that has the ability to clean the stomach. After eating grass, they regurgitate it along with the contents of the stomach, thus, a natural self-purification occurs with the help of a natural absorbent.

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Is it possible to give a cat activated charcoal: how to give

When a cat or kitten lives in the house, the owner should always be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances, such as vomiting or diarrhea in the animal. One of the most annoying cat problems is poisoning. Although cats are very picky about their food, there are still many things that cause a pet’s intense curiosity. For example, a kitten can easily eat something that is completely unfit for consumption, and suffer greatly from this. Too bad there is no ambulance for animals. And if the symptoms of poisoning began at night? How can you help a cat until you manage to take it to the doctor?

Activated carbon

Activated charcoal from a regular pharmacy, is it possible?

In this case, funds from a human home first-aid kit come to the aid of the owners. One such remedy is activated charcoal. But before giving it to a cat, you need to know how to use it correctly.

Can a cat be given activated charcoal?

The cat is already accustomed to the fact that it can be given activated charcoal for prevention purposes.

Coal is used not only for poisoning. It is best used as a preventive measure. If a cat likes to eat something on the street, and after that it vomits.

And this happens every time after eating something on walks. In this case, you just need to take preventive measures for the cat.

Prevention of poisoning in cats

For prevention, one tablet per day is enough.

A little activated charcoal is mixed into a cat's breakfast - this helps the pet avoid food poisoning. For prevention, one tablet per day is enough. It is ground into dust and mixed into the animal's food. If the cat refuses to eat such food, then the dust is dissolved in water and poured into the pet's mouth with a syringe.

It often happens that a pet can chew a pill with pleasure.

In cases of poisoning, coal is taken at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of animal weight.

During vomiting, a cat can refuse to eat, so it is better to crush the tablet, mix it with water and pour it into the pet's mouth. Activated charcoal is completely harmless to cats. It is an excellent absorbent and helps well with first aid. In the stomach, charcoal collects all the toxins and brings them out with feces.

Activated charcoal when bitten by a bug

When walking in nature, a cat can be bitten by a bug beetle.

If diarrhea and vomiting in a cat are caused by the bite of a bug, then activated charcoal is suitable for first aid. This small beetle, weighing 6 grams, can even kill a horse with its bite. And for a cat, it is much more dangerous.

But if you give your pet coal at the first symptoms, you will save his life!

Side effects and contraindications in the treatment of activated charcoal

With prolonged use of coal, constipation, diarrhea with black stools are possible. In the body of an animal, calcium, fats, proteins, vitamins and hormones can be poorly absorbed. Therefore, as a preventive measure, give your cat 10 days of water every 2-3 months.

Activated charcoal is prohibited for animals with stomach ulcers. And also you should not give it to a cat if you are also giving it antitoxic drugs. The effect of such medications comes after they are absorbed in the stomach, and coal can prevent this.

If your cat's condition worsens after taking activated charcoal, do not give it any more. Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible, because there is a possibility that your animal has an intolerance to the absorbent.

Activated charcoal is not contraindicated for kittens.

Activated charcoal is not contraindicated for kittens and pregnant cats. The preventive norm for an adult cat will be - 1 tablet, for a kitten - half a tablet.

Video on how to properly give activated charcoal to a cat

Conclusion

If you undertake to provide first aid to your pet, try not to overdo it. It is always necessary to observe the dosage of coal, and it is best to consult a veterinarian. It is he who will be able to tell for sure whether activated charcoal will help your cat with these symptoms.

Take care of your pet, do not let him eat waste on the street and take precautions at home. If you give your pet proper attention and care, then the pet will delight you with its active presence every day.

Although cats are very picky about their food, there are still many things that cause a pet’s intense curiosity. For example, a kitten can easily eat something that is completely unfit for consumption, and suffer greatly from this. Too bad there is no ambulance for animals. And if the symptoms of poisoning began at night? How can you help a cat until you manage to take it to the doctor?

Activated charcoal from a regular pharmacy, is it possible?

In this case, funds from a human home first-aid kit come to the aid of the owners. One of these means is Activated carbon . But before giving it to a cat, you need to know how to use it correctly.

Can a cat be given activated charcoal?

The cat is already accustomed to the fact that it can be given activated charcoal for prevention purposes.

Coal is used not only. It is best used as a preventive measure. If a cat likes to eat something on the street, and after that it vomits.

And this happens every time after eating something on walks. In this case, you just need to take preventive measures for the cat.

Prevention of poisoning in cats

For prevention, one tablet per day is enough.

A little activated charcoal is mixed into a cat's breakfast - this helps the pet avoid food poisoning. For prevention, one tablet per day is enough. It is ground into dust and mixed into the animal's food. If the cat refuses to eat such food, then the dust is dissolved in water and poured into the pet's mouth with a syringe.

It often happens that a pet can chew a pill with pleasure.

In cases of poisoning, coal is taken at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of animal weight.

Activated charcoal when bitten by a bug

When walking in nature, a cat can be bitten by a bug beetle.

Activated charcoal is not contraindicated for kittens.

Activated charcoal is not contraindicated for kittens and pregnant cats. The preventive norm for an adult cat will be - 1 tablet, for a kitten - half a tablet.

Video on how to properly give activated charcoal to a cat

Conclusion

When a pet feels bad, the owner tries to help him in every way. And if the emergency call of the veterinarian to the house is far from affordable for everyone, then there is always a first-aid kit in the house. Among the medicines that are intended for people, there are those that can be given to animals. The difference is only in the dosage, because a cat is much smaller than a person. One of the drugs that are suitable for the treatment of four-legged friends is activated charcoal.

Poisoning and activated charcoal

It is not in vain that a saying has been invented about feline curiosity. Kittens are interested in everything they see around, they want to try everything on the tooth. With age, animals gain experience and learn to avoid dangers, but even an adult pet can decide that a tasty or unusually smelling object is quite edible. Therefore, almost any cat can get poisoned. Poisons in the form of liquid or powder can get on the coat, and the cat will lick them off while washing. A cat can eat a rodent that has been poisoned with a special compound. It is important to immediately take action and give a safe and affordable drug.

Coal adsorbs well, absorbs toxic substances. It is not absorbed by the body and exits the digestive tract, taking toxic components with it. It has the same effect on the human and feline body. You can give it to cats of all ages, as well as pregnant and lactating.

Signs of poisoning

There are several symptoms that are characteristic of poisoning:

weakness;
profuse salivation;
frequent liquid and watery stools;
trembling of the limbs and the whole body;
cough;
vomit;
shortness of breath or heavy breathing;
spotting in the stool;
convulsions;
disorientation in space;
pain in the abdomen (with palpation);
loss of consciousness.

If several symptoms are present at once, you can give the medicine without hesitation. Some signs are found in other diseases, such as intestinal infections and digestive disorders, but activated charcoal, even in this case, will not cause harm, since it also adsorbs pathogenic bacteria and food components.

Diseases in which it is important to give activated charcoal to a cat
Black tablets will help with food allergies, increased gas formation in the intestines, diarrhea after taking anthelmintic drugs and reduce the high acidity of gastric juice.

The amount of the drug

One gram of coal is required for one kilogram of animal weight. Half or one whole tablet is enough for a kitten up to six months, and an adult should be given a few. It is better to give medicine without water, because coal also absorbs water, which reduces its effect directly in the body. In case of poisoning, plenty of fluids are required, so after taking activated charcoal, the cat must be given clean water to drink, preferably boiled.

How to give a pill

A pet can choke on a whole pill, so it should be divided into smaller pieces. It is better to give a kitten a quarter, and an adult pet - a half or a third. It is better to carry out all procedures with someone's help, so that one person holds the animal and the other treats it. You need to open the cat's mouth and put the medicine closer to the root of the tongue, then close the mouth and lift the muzzle. Then wait until the pet swallows the pill, it will be noticeable by the movement of the muscles in the neck. You can look into the cat's mouth to make sure that the medicine has been swallowed: it happens that animals move the pill by the cheek or closer to the tip of the tongue, then the procedure must be repeated.

How to water a cat

During poisoning, animals can drink water in large quantities, because instinct tells them so. But sometimes sick cats lose interest even in water, and even after taking the medicine, they may begin to be suspicious of any offer of a person. Then you need to drink the patient by force, using a syringe. Half a milliliter is enough for a kitten, and an adult needs to pour 1-2.

You should close the animal's mouth and pull the lip with your finger, insert a syringe with water without a needle into the resulting gap and gently inject a small amount of drink over the cheek. The trickle should not be too strong or too weak. Then you need to slightly raise the head of the animal up and wait until it swallows the water. Then repeat so that the cat drank in several doses.

How to avoid an overdose

Too much activated charcoal can be as harmful to a pet's health as food poisoning. The adsorbent acts indiscriminately, it absorbs everything, including water and mucus inside the stomach and intestines. This can lead to dehydration, which can lead to constipation. Toxins do not leave the body, and this only aggravates the situation.

How to understand that an overdose has occurred:

Feces are difficult to pass, in small quantities, it is too dry.
Feces do not come out at all, although the cat diligently pushes.
The cat does not allow touching the stomach, because it hurts.
Hard lumps are felt in the area of the intestines.
The skin loses its elasticity. This is the result of dehydration, and is especially noticeable when, after pulling back the skin at the withers, the fold is smoothed out more slowly than usual.

To avoid this, you need to give the animal water to drink, not milk or kefir. After poisoning, the cat should drink at least a glass of pure water (250 ml) per day, and at least 10 ml should fall on each tablet of activated charcoal. You can remove the coal that has lingered in the intestines by taking enveloping drugs and laxatives. Only a doctor should prescribe additional treatment.

When Coal Fails

Tablets enter only the digestive tract and act exclusively in it. If the symptoms are correctly recognized, and toxic substances have not yet entered the bloodstream, coal will alleviate the condition of the animal and reduce its suffering while the owner is taking the patient to the veterinary clinic. When too much time is lost, the coal has nothing to absorb in the stomach and intestines: poisons are already in the blood, the help of a specialist is needed. The adsorbent may also be useless when bitten by poisonous insects.

Cat self-medication

Animals that roam freely on the street can be treated on the go. As soon as they feel unwell, they begin to eat grass, and then burp what is in their stomach. For a domestic cat, you can grow grass in a pot, because instincts work not only outside the home. It should be borne in mind that there are more dangers outside, the probability of stumbling upon poison is much higher, so it is better to carefully observe your pet, even if it is quite independent.

What else do you need to know

It is necessary to find out what exactly poisoned the cat: it depends on how exactly it will be treated.
Coal absorbs everything, even medicines. Therefore, it should be given separately from other prescribed drugs.
You can not delay the visit to the clinic. The improvement in well-being can be temporary, because not only the intestines suffer from poisoning. The biggest hit is on the liver, which removes toxins from the blood. It requires an individually selected treatment regimen and a diet that only a veterinarian will prescribe.
If the doctor has warned about the dangers of taking activated charcoal, it is better not to treat the animal yourself.
If the poisoning is severe, coal may be useless. The veterinarian can prescribe injections and droppers with special solutions that will do the job perfectly.

When not to give charcoal

Even such a harmless drug has contraindications:

Ulcers of the stomach and intestines.
Internal bleeding.
Chronic kidney disease.
Diabetes.
The need to take other medications. Coal reduces their concentration and the effectiveness of treatment in general.

Activated charcoal is not a panacea, it only removes poisons from the intestines and stomach, eliminates one symptom - diarrhea, and its causes may be different. This medicine cannot cure the underlying disease. It also cannot be given as a preventive measure.

The medicine is produced in different forms, in the form of powder, suspension, capsules and paste, so do not be upset if the cat spits out the pill over and over again. The main thing is to observe the dosage, give the cat water to drink and not neglect the visit to the doctor.

Video: how to give a cat a pill?

The drug is obtained from charcoal powder, starch and sucrose are added to form tablets. It absorbs toxic substances from the gastrointestinal tract, does not break down, is not absorbed into the blood. A day later, it is completely excreted along with feces.

Doctors prescribe coal in the following cases:

poisoning with food, drugs, chemicals;
food infections: salmonellosis, dysentery;
diseases of the stomach, which are accompanied by flatulence, bloating;
kidney failure;
diarrhea after deworming;
allergies to food, drugs.

Without a doctor's prescription, the drug is given at the first sign of poisoning:

The drug will be needed when at least two symptoms appear: the sooner it enters the digestive tract, the faster the spread of toxins throughout the body will stop. For prevention, charcoal is given when it is suspected that the cat has swallowed stale food or licked a toxic substance. The drug is allowed to be used for pregnant and lactating cats.

When medicine should not be given

The absorbent is not prescribed simultaneously with drugs whose action begins after absorption: it absorbs part of the drug, and the therapeutic effect is reduced.

Coal is contraindicated in chronic diseases:

duodenal ulcer and stomach;
bleeding in the digestive tract;
intolerance to components: sugar, starch;
diabetes.

Veterinarians do not advise coal without good reason, it interferes with the absorption of nutrients, as a result, the animal receives less vitamins, micro and macro elements. With uncontrolled intake, the cat begins diarrhea or constipation.

How to calculate the dosage

In pharmacies, the drug is more often found in the form of black porous tablets of 250 mg. It is produced for people, so there are no instructions for treating animals in the instructions. Each tablet is calculated for 10 kg of weight. An adult cat is given 0.5 - 1 piece at a time, half is enough for a kitten.
Increasing the dose by 2 times does not bring negative side effects, with a strong excess, the cat develops constipation. If coal is not excreted in a day, then the reverse process begins: toxins from it return to the intestines and the treatment becomes useless.

The frequency and duration of administration depends on the severity of the animal's condition. On average, coal is given 3-4 times a day with an interval of 3 hours for 3-7 days. If improvement is noticed the next day, the dose is halved. If there is no result after 5 days, veterinary care and additional drugs for treatment will be required. The absorbent neutralizes toxins in the intestines, but does not affect them after they enter the bloodstream.

How to give medicine

The animal is forced to take the drug in the following ways:

Whole tablets . With one hand, they pull the skin at the withers, raise the head, while the mouth opens spontaneously. Another put on the root of the tongue tablet, close and fix the mouth. The pet is not released until he swallows the medicine.
Dilution of powder in water . Cats have no teeth along the edges of the gums, a free space is formed between them, where the tip of the syringe without a needle is placed. This is used when medicines are given in liquid form. The tablet is crushed into powder, stirred in 2-5 ml of water, drawn into a syringe. The animal is held by the head, the edge of the lip is pulled to the back of the head with a finger. With the other hand, a syringe is inserted into the gap between the gums and the suspension is poured in. The mouth is kept closed until a swallowing movement is noticed.
Medicinal enema . This method is suitable when more than 2 hours have passed since the onset of poisoning and the toxins have managed to move from the stomach to the intestines. An enema will also be required with constant vomiting, when the medicine is immediately rejected, without lingering in the stomach. Coal powder is mixed with 100 ml of water, the suspension is collected in a baby syringe.
The animal is laid on its side before the procedure. The tip of the pear is smeared with petroleum jelly and injected into the anus with helical movements: 2 cm for an adult pet, 1 cm for a kitten. The liquid is injected slowly so as not to damage the intestines, at the end they hold the cat for 15 minutes. For emptying, the animal is placed in a wide basin. After the cessation of vomiting, the drug is continued to be given orally.

Activated charcoal is a versatile and safe remedy for the cat, with the right dosage, it will remove toxins without harm to the health of the pet.