Is it possible to give activated charcoal to a cat? How to treat a cat for poisoning? Veterinarian advice. Activated carbon and isoniazid poisoning, rat poison
“Activated carbon” is a well-known sorbent that is used for various poisonings. Has a powerful adsorbing effect. The active component of the drug quickly envelops the gastric mucosa, which prevents harmful substances - heavy metal salts, narcotic components, poisons, chemicals, toxins - from entering the bloodstream. The medicine is safe, it is removed from the body unchanged in feces after 7-10 hours, turning it black. The sorbent is prescribed to everyone without exception, including infants and the elderly. Is it possible to give Activated Carbon to a cat?
"Activated carbon" for cats: application
Having decided to get a cat, the owner must understand that feeding, cleaning the animal’s litter box and combing it regularly is only half the battle. If you have a four-legged friend in the house, it is very important to ensure his complete safety. This is especially true for small kittens, who strive to taste something. And this is not necessarily due to the fact that the owner does not feed his pet enough. Most likely, teething or a weakened sense of smell is to blame. Therefore, food that is not at all intended for a weak and fragile body often ends up in the stomach of little fidgets. Hence, gastric and intestinal disorders in the form of diarrhea, vomiting and other signs of intoxication.
How can you tell if an animal is poisoned? Here are the main symptoms:
- loose, watery stools, the frequency of which can be from 5 times per day;
- rapid breathing;
- refusal of food;
- dark urine, frequent urination;
- dry nose, dilated pupils;
- a radical change in behavior (an active cat becomes too calm, immobilized, sleeps all the time);
- putrid odor from the animal’s mouth, glow in the dark vomit (observed in case of phosphorus poisoning);
- heavy breathing, production of large amounts of saliva, swelling of the tongue and gums (acid poisoning);
- decreased temperature, ulcerations on the oral mucosa, paralysis, uremia (mercury poisoning);
- regurgitation, vomiting; in severe cases, convulsions, trembling, loss of consciousness, paleness of the oral mucosa are observed (this indicates the onset of dehydration).
If one of these signs is present, you need to sound the alarm. The best option is to contact a veterinarian. If this is not possible, then you urgently need to give your pet “Activated Carbon”. 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 it prescribed and how does the medicine work?
Once in the stomach, the drug begins to act immediately. The main component of the medicine is charcoal of plant and animal origin, which has undergone special treatment. It has a detoxifying effect, that is, it cleanses the body of waste, toxins and allergens. The action consists in the absorption of liquid containing toxic substances by coal particles.
"Activated carbon" for cats
Veterinarians recommend taking the medicine within 2 hours after poisoning. The fact is that during intoxication, the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract work in enhanced mode. This leads to increased mucus production. In such an environment, bacterial flora multiply faster. Therefore, in this case you cannot hesitate. The body expends 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 is added to 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 in feces in its original form. The drug does not affect digestion and peristalsis.
Pore structure of “Activated carbon”
In addition, the medicine has an antimicrobial effect. It adsorbs and removes bacteria from the intestines, which helps the body cope with the infection faster.
Activated carbon will help if you take it as soon as possible after consuming poisoned food. If harmful substances are absorbed into the blood, the drug will not have a therapeutic effect.
The owner’s task during intoxication is not to give food, give more water and not influence diarrhea and vomiting. It should be remembered that diarrhea and vomiting are natural processes that rid the body of harmful substances, so they cannot be prevented.
Important! The owner should be wary if the cat experiences diarrhea and vomiting more than 5-6 times a day. This is fraught with the development of dehydration due to significant loss of water by the body.
Indications for the use of charcoal for cats:
- fermentation and rotting in the intestinal cavity, flatulence;
- increased acidity of digestive juice;
- diarrhea, vomiting, blood in feces;
- allergy;
- poisoning with chemicals, drugs, juices of indoor plants;
- salmonellosis, dysentery;
- vomiting and diarrhea after taking anti-worm medications;
- liver diseases.
Preparations similar to Activated Carbon
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 skill. Here are the step by step steps.
- Place the pet on your lap so that its hind legs rest on the owner's stomach.
- Use your left hand to lift the animal's head. Pull your lower lip towards the back of your head. In cats, after 4 lower and 6 upper premolars, there are no further teeth. This makes it easier to administer the medication into the mouth. By pulling the lower lip back, at the root of the cat's tongue you can see a hollow hole into which a syringe fits perfectly.
- You cannot lower the animal’s head down or remove your hand until he swallows. To stimulate the swallowing movement, you need to stroke it along the neck.
It is important to properly restrain the cat before giving the drug.
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 the opportunity arises, he will not let go of his claws.
The whole tablet can be given to the cat. You need to press your fingers on the area between the upper and lower lips. In this case, the animal’s head should be raised. When the pet's mouth opens, a tablet is placed on the root of the tongue. Next, the jaws close. You cannot 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 must drink at least 1 glass per day. In order for the drug to help your pet, you should know what dosage is acceptable for it.
Dosage
It would be good to give the cat the whole tablet. 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 using a small spoon or syringe, after removing the needle. A small sterile syringe will also work in this case.
How to give activated carbon correctly
The dosage of the medicine is calculated depending on the weight of the cat. So, per 1 kg of her body weight, 0.25 g of active substance (1 tablet) is recommended. The drug should be given to the four-legged animal every 4 hours, but no 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 at one time.
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 be absorbed into the walls of the stomach and intestines. If the animal does not have time to take black coal within this period of time, then this threatens the penetration of harmful substances into the blood.
There is no point in inducing vomiting after 2 hours - it will only torment the cat. In this case, you can give a cleansing enema based on black coal. To do this, 10-15 g of powder is added to a glass with 100 ml of warm boiled water. After the procedure is completed, the cat must be given charcoal orally.
Overdose of “Activated Carbon” for cats
You cannot treat cats with Activated Carbon if they:
- stomach bleeding;
- ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract;
- sorbent intolerance.
It is worth noting that prolonged use of the drug and excess dosage threaten problems with stool - constipation. Dry and dense feces can form a plug, leading to intestinal obstruction.
Attention! If the animal does not go to the litter box for more than a day, you should consult a veterinarian.
If you uncontrollably feed your four-legged pet charcoal, this will help flush out nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from the body, as well as reduce the production of gastric juice, the main task of which is to break down fats and proteins.
Pet owners should remember that dark gray coloration of feces is a normal reaction after taking Activated Charcoal.
Activated carbon darkens cat feces
As for an overdose, its main symptom is constipation. How can you tell if your cat has problems with bowel movements? Here are the main symptoms of temporary intestinal obstruction:
- the animal strains in the tray, but feces do not come out, and the cat may meow loudly;
- abdominal pain;
- when palpating the pet’s abdomen, a compaction is noted;
- feces are dry and cracked.
To prevent side effects, you should follow the dosage and give the animal water (1 tablet 10 ml).
Activated carbon is safe for pregnant cats
Is it possible to feed Activated Carbon to pregnant or lactating cats?
Veterinarians recommend treating lactating and pregnant cats with the drug. 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! Activated carbon should not be given to cats for preventive purposes.
What an owner should do if a cat is poisoned
To treat poisoning in a cat, you should act quickly and follow a number of recommendations from veterinarians.
- Call the vet.
- A poisoned cat should be taken to a well-lit and ventilated place.
- The owner must wear long sleeves to protect his hands from contact with poisons. After all, cats can show aggression when they are sick – biting and scratching.
- Induce vomiting in the cat. This must be done immediately after the animal eats poisonous food. To do this, you need to give your pet 3% hydrogen peroxide (1 tsp per 1 kg of weight). The portion is divided into several doses. Usually after the second the cat starts vomiting. You can give the animal water with vomit root (in the form of syrup, sold in a pharmacy), or saline solution.
- You should not feed the cat.
- After vomiting, give “Activated carbon” at the rate of 0.25 g per 1 kg of pet’s weight.
- Drink more water.
- If toxic poisons remain on the fur, then it is better to wash the pet so that it does not lick off the remaining toxic substances.
Attention! If the poisoning is severe, then the dosage of the medicine can be increased to 1-4 g per 1 kg of the cat’s weight. The medicine should be given every 4-6 hours for 3-5 days.
“Activated carbon” and isoniazid (rat poison) poisoning
Isoniazid is used by dog hunters to bait cats and dogs. If an animal is accidentally poisoned by this substance, you should:
- call the veterinarian;
- induce vomiting immediately;
- feed the animal a laxative (so that the poison does not have time to be absorbed into the digestive tract);
- give “Activated carbon” (before and after vomiting);
- give “Pyridoxine” - vitamin B6 (if animal haters live in the next apartment, it is better to have this drug in the first aid kit);
- give Corvalol - 3 drops per 4 kg of weight;
- solder with water.
If you are poisoned by rat poison:
- call the veterinary clinic;
- urgently induce vomiting, give an enema or give a laxative;
- feed “Activated carbon”;
- use an antidote - vitamin K (necessary for blood clotting);
Table. Permitted analogues of “Activated carbon”
| Names of analogues | Main active ingredient | Peculiarities | How to take for cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Polyphepan" | Lingin hydrolytic and activated carbon | Several hundred times higher than the adsorption capabilities of Activated Carbon. Can be taken for preventive purposes | For diarrhea, 1 teaspoon 30 minutes before meals 3 times a day for 7 days |
| "Enterosgel" | Polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate | Has a large number of contraindications. More successfully removes toxins and allergens from the animal’s body. 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. Give 2 times a day before meals 2.5 hours or after |
| "Smecta" | Dioctahedral smectite | Eliminates diarrhea and gastrointestinal disorders after the first use. 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 effective than Activated Carbon. High adsorption characteristics. A large number of indications for use. Relieves the animal from nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea within 4 minutes | Diluted with 20-35 ml of water. The norm is 1 mg per 1 kg of cat weight. Can be given up to 5-6 times a day |
Blister beetle poison and “Activated carbon”
The blister beetle is a kind of assistant to agricultural workers. Its purpose is to destroy plant pests. It has a bright red color. The insect never bites. Its 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 a beetle is bitten or swallowed), ulcers with purulent discharge form on the walls, which leads to the rapid death of the pet.
If immediately after a cat swallows an insect, you feed it Activated Carbon, then the likelihood that the animal will survive increases.
When treating cat poisoning with Activated Carbon, the dosage should be observed. An incorrect ratio can lead to an overdose and unwanted effects, one of which is severe constipation.
The information posted on this page is for informational purposes only and cannot be used for self-medication!
Before using medications, consultation with a specialist is MANDATORY!
For whom: can be used in all domestic and farm animals and birds for diarrhea, flatulence, increased acidity of gastric contents and other digestive disorders. Used for liver diseases, allergic dermatitis, infectious diseases (salmonellosis, etc.), food and household poisoning. It is prescribed to animals that have identified processes of fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines.
Leave form: The drug is available in tablets of 250, 320 and 500 mg. They are porous and black. Manufacturers pack them in paper blisters of 10 pieces, in cardboard boxes of 20, 40, 100 pieces, in plastic bags of 1000–6000 pieces. Each product unit is necessarily marked with the name of the drug, the date of its manufacture, series and expiration date, as well as the name of the manufacturer, its trademark, legal address, etc.
Dosage: The tablets can be given to animals whole or crushed into powder. For greater effectiveness, the powder can be mixed with water and the resulting suspension can be fed to the animal. The single dose depends on the type of animal. For cattle, take 50–200 g of coal per individual, for sheep – 10–50 g, for horses – 20–150 g, for pigs – 5–10 g, for cats – 0.2–2 g, for chickens – 0.2–1 g, for dogs – 0.5–2 g. Frequency of taking the drug – up to 4 times a day. If poisoning occurs, charcoal should be given immediately upon diagnosis or as soon as possible after poisoning.
Restrictions: the drug is contraindicated in animals diagnosed with gastric bleeding, ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, or sorbent intolerance. It should be remembered that activated carbon turns animal feces black.
Reviews about “Activated carbon (tablets) for dogs and cats”:
Thank you for the article. I needed a dosage, and I got even more.
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In addition to the well-known treatment for poisoning of cats, dogs and other living creatures, activated carbon is used as a prophylactic agent. I read that some people give their pets a tablet after a walk (of course, I doubt that one tablet will help with actual poisoning, but still...), but we used activated carbon for other purposes.
My grandmother always added coal to the chickens' food (starting with the young). The bird gets sick less often (tested over the years) and, as they say in the veterinary hospital, the meat of such chickens will be better and cleaner, because they were raised for the family!
We ground the tablets into powder and mixed them with feed (about 2 packs, that's 20 tablets per 1 kg of feed). This was enough for the chickens; they were clean and fluffy (as you know, chicks are most susceptible to intestinal diseases and diarrhea - the first sign of frailty and “not longevity”).
Coal cost (and still costs) pennies.
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I give activated carbon in tablets to my animals periodically in case of poisoning - both as prescribed by a doctor and independently.
These tablets are quite large, big enough for a cat’s throat. Animals have difficulty swallowing them - the medicine is made without a shell and slightly clings to the mucous membrane during swallowing (tested on myself).
Of course, in serious cases, activated carbon alone cannot be used, but in milder cases, animals can easily do without this carbon.
The last time I had to give it in combination with other medications was to a cat when she couldn’t really eat for several days. As it turned out later, there was vinegar poisoning. The animal walked on the freshly treated surface, licked off some of the substance and then could not recover for a long time.
If your animal has serious symptoms of poisoning, I still recommend consulting a doctor, because activated charcoal alone will not help the animal. And with a set of medications on your own, you may not be able to guess what will only worsen the course of the disease.
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If you have a dog, then you know the feeling that I experience every time on a walk if my little dog returns from the bushes happily slurping something. Since I have no idea what he ate, and I want to somehow protect my animal, in such situations I give him Activated Charcoal. This is a very old absorbent that has been tested for decades, so I don’t have a shadow of doubt about its safety. I also give activated charcoal to animals if they suddenly develop diarrhea. As a rule, if you correctly calculate the dosage by weight, it is enough to give them this drug two or three times.
When my dog was still a puppy, he ate some scattered poison and Activated Charcoal also became part of the comprehensive treatment.
In addition to my dog, my cats also received this drug a couple of times. I gave it to my cat once when he was not even six months old, and he was poisoned by spoiled canned food. Charcoal contributed to the most rapid elimination of toxins and soon after starting to take the drug, an improvement in the condition was noted.
So, coal is an inexpensive and effective remedy that we always have at hand.
How to properly give activated charcoal to a cat with diarrhea: dosage, tips, recommendations
Is it necessary to give activated charcoal to a cat with diarrhea and, if so, in what quantity? Is it worth treating diarrhea and how not to harm your pet? Let us immediately note that in most cases, diarrhea needs to be treated or at least controlled.
Activated carbon is an absorbent that cannot actually harm a cat, but it is not a panacea either. The tablets are sold in almost all human pharmacies, but the instructions do not contain data on the treatment of animals with them.
Activated carbon is produced in the form of pressed black tablets and packaged in blisters. The tablets are odorless and make a hissing sound when wet, as the charcoal actively absorbs water. The drug can be given in the form of whole or split tablets, dry powder or wet slurry.
At the pharmacy you can find several types of activated carbon:
- Standard, with a dosage of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight.
- Coal marked "ultra" and similar - dosage 1 tablet per 20–30 kg of weight.
- White coal– contains silicon dioxide as a base.
- Carbolene and analogues– granules or tablets, which are made from a mixture of several types of coal.
Important! Activated carbon is one of the drugs that have virtually no contraindications or side effects.
Some medications contain excipients to which, in very rare cases, a cat may develop an allergic reaction.
Coal begins to act when it enters the stomach and intestines. Breaking down into a slurry, coal grains actively absorb liquid, which is saturated with toxins. The main effect of activated carbon is aimed at absorption, unless we are talking about a complex preparation.
With diarrhea, the intestinal mucous membranes work much more actively, which leads to an increase in the amount of mucus secreted. The longer the condition is ignored, the more unfriendly (pathogenic) bacteria appear in the intestines. You need to understand that the strength of bacteria is in the size of their colony. That is, when pathogenic microbes become more numerous, they destroy beneficial bacteria.
Activated charcoal can be used to treat both acute and chronic diarrhea.
Unfriendly bacteria irritate the intestinal mucosa, in response to which even more mucus is released. It is worth understanding that the body spends a lot of energy and water on this process, and the main danger of diarrhea is dehydration. When there is not enough water in a cat’s body to produce mucus, pathogenic bacteria do not stop multiplying, that is, their concentration increases. If the cat receives food during this process, physical damage to the intestines also occurs. At the same time, no useful substances from food are absorbed, since the intestinal walls are too swollen, and friendly bacteria are needed to fully process food.
Absorbents work like a sponge; they literally absorb toxins and increase in volume. Activated carbon is not absorbed into the blood and is quickly eliminated naturally.
Treatment of diarrhea with activated carbon involves only the elimination of poisons; the drug does not affect peristalsis or the speed of the digestive process. In case of mild food poisoning, activated carbon is excellent; for more serious intoxication, it may not be enough. If you are not sure what exactly poisoned your cat, you should combine charcoal with Atoxil, Smecta or similar drugs.
Important! Activated carbon should not be given along with medications, as it will reduce the therapeutic effect or eliminate it completely.
As mentioned above, this drug does not cause side effects or complications, however, if the dosage is significantly exceeded, constipation is possible. Let’s immediately make a reservation that a cat, and even more so a kitten, does not need to be given more than 2 tablets at a time, because each of them is designed for 10 kg of weight.
If the animal is given too much coal, the feces become too dry and dense, which prevents them from moving through the intestines. You can get out of this situation by giving the animal plenty of fluids and enveloping drugs. If you notice that your pet does not go to the toilet after taking charcoal for more than a day, you should contact a veterinarian. Dry feces can form a plug, meaning your pet will develop an intestinal blockage.
Coal is used for oral use and for cleansing enemas. For an enema, the tablets are crushed into powder and dissolved in water.
Is it possible to give activated charcoal without a doctor's prescription?
Diarrhea in cats may indicate the body's reaction to poisoning, allergies, or even stress. Many owners believe that milk is good for cats and stubbornly give it to them, although some adult animals develop lactose intolerance. Diarrhea can develop if the cat’s diet suddenly changes, for example, when it is kept on industrial food, or you treat your pet to raw meat or fish. Worms are another common cause of diarrhea in cats.
When treating diarrhea, it is necessary to eliminate not the symptom, but the cause of the disruption of the digestive system. If you decide to treat only the symptom, you risk missing the development of a more serious disease affecting the digestive system, such as diabetes.
Most kittens experience diarrhea when switching from mother's milk to adult food and after moving. In the first case, the phenomenon is explained by mild dysbiosis, in the second, by stress.
Without any doubt, you can use charcoal when eating low-quality foods. It is important to give the cat the drug as quickly as possible, since activated charcoal will not have any effect on toxins that enter the bloodstream. Give charcoal as first aid if you know the cause of the illness, for example, if the cat has been poisoned by household chemicals. Be sure to consult a doctor after providing first aid, since charcoal only acts locally, and in case of severe intoxication, you need to cleanse the blood.
A cat suffering from food poisoning should be under constant supervision. Your goal is not to feed your pet or influence diarrhea or vomiting. Feeding during poisoning will only worsen the situation, and vomiting and diarrhea are natural methods of cleansing the body, so they cannot be stopped in the acute stage of poisoning. You need to be wary if vomiting or diarrhea occurs more than 5-6 times a day. The situation may not be critical, but it will become so if the body loses too much water.
If you refuse water, have a decrease in body temperature, or have any neuralgic disorders, contact your veterinarian immediately. Not everyone, even food poisoning, can be treated at home. Spoiled food can harbor colonies of dangerous bacteria and viruses, which are eliminated by certain drugs, and absorbents are harmless to them.
To correctly calculate the dosage, you need to study the instructions for the drug. Typically, doctors prescribe dosage according to the following logic:
Dosage of activated carbon: 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight.
The cat weighs 5 kg.
Double the prescribed dose, half a tablet, and get 1 tablet per dose.
Such a strong excess of the dosage is explained by the harmlessness of the drug and the fact that the cat can spit out most of the medicine during the drinking process. The first day the animal is given the full prescribed dose. If the dynamics are positive, by the second day, the dosage is halved.
Activated carbon is an adsorbent that binds toxins and helps evacuate them. It has no contraindications or side effects. Giving a kitten activated charcoal for diarrhea is necessary if intoxication is suspected. The therapeutic dose is 3-5 tablets for an adult cat and 1 tablet for a kitten.
The main and only substance of the drug is black pressed coal. The product is tasteless and odorless and actively reacts with water, absorbing it. White activated carbon is also produced, which consists of silicon dioxide and differs in dosage. In the usual blisters, black activated carbon tablets weigh 250 grams.
The effect can be seen by throwing the tablet into a glass of water, where it will immediately begin to absorb water, expand and become mushy. Activated carbon absorbs everything around it like a sponge.
The drug is capable of providing some antimicrobial effect, which is due to the fact that coal adsorbs pathogenic microorganisms on its surface. By removing them from the intestines, it reduces the mass of the harmful colony, which helps the body cope with the infection. The coal mass is evacuated with feces through the intestines.
Application
Activated carbon is used for symptoms of poisoning:
- strong;
- blood in stool;
- rapidly developing weakness;
- and nausea;
- stomach ache.
Taking pills will only help in removing toxins that are located in the intestinal lumen. If toxic substances have already been absorbed into the blood, then it is necessary to carry out other symptomatic therapy.
note, that with activated carbon you cannot take any other drugs or even prebiotics together, since carbon adsorbs them too.
Read also: General anesthesia: preparation, risks, cat behavior after anesthesia
Overdose
Side effects from activated carbon are rare; symptoms of overdose correspond to severe constipation. Since the drug, as mentioned above, absorbs a large amount of liquid and mucus.
Symptoms:
- the animal tries to go to the toilet, strains, but feces do not come out;
- severe dehydration, if you lift a cat by the withers, then it will not straighten out for some time;
- dry, cracked stool;
- stomach ache;
- a lump is felt in the abdomen.
To prevent an overdose, it is necessary to observe the dosage and give it to the animal along with the charcoal. large amount of water(10 ml per tablet). Enveloping drugs and agents that enhance intestinal motility will help the dense lump come out (the latter may not be given in case of diarrhea).
Dosage
The dosage is 3-5 tablets for an adult cat and 0.5-1 tablet for a kitten, everything is done on the basis of: grams of activated carbon per kilogram of weight. Don't forget to give your pet water.
How to give to a kitten?
It is advisable to give activated carbon without first dissolving it in water, as you reduce its ability to adsorb. But water is needed. You just need to first feed the kitten a pill, and then give it water to drink. If the kitten is small, then the tablet must first be divided into 3-4 parts so that the animal can swallow them.
How to give the tablet:
- Place the kitten on its hind legs, hold it tightly, or better yet, ask someone to hold it to free up your hands.
- Open your pet's mouth and place the tablet on the root of the tongue.
- Close your mouth, slightly raise your head and hold it there until your pet makes a swallowing movement.
- Then make sure there is nothing in your mouth.
Before answering the question: “How to give activated charcoal to a cat?”, it is worth asking other questions. For example, is it worth giving this cat this drug 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 will most likely refuse to chew it. What kind of animal is this - activated carbon? And what are the criteria for its use for humans and animals.
Activated carbon (in short).
Activated charcoal lat. 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 using coal was noted for removing toxic substances, until substances that poison the body - poisons - have not left the stomach and intestines.
Porous coal absorbs, absorbs, absorbs toxins - absorbs.
Nowadays, starch (for better tablet formation) and grape sugar (dextrose, glucohexose, glucose) are added to crushed coal powder (“black salt”). Glucose, easily penetrating into the blood, calms and stabilizes body processes, helps reduce stress, which is inevitable during toxic poisoning.
Coal pressed together with glucose is an excellent universal antitoxin, an enterosorbent agent 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 Carbon”.
Available in the form of tablets of 0.25 g, as well as in the form of granules, capsules, paste, suspensions (aqueous suspension) and powder. Paste, suspension and powder are the most convenient forms to give activated charcoal to cats, especially if the animal is weakened or is still a small kitten.
Application in veterinary medicine
After a brief excursion into the pharmacology of activated carbon, it becomes clear that giving activated carbon to cats is not only possible, but also needed as a medicine for conditions such as:
- The processes of fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines – dyspepsia.
- Flatulence always accompanies dyspepsia.
- Hypersecretion of gastric juice (increased acidity).
- Diarrhea.
- Poisoning with drugs and other chemicals, especially in their acute stage.
- Toxoinfections (dysentery, salmonellosis).
- Kidney and liver failure.
- Allergic reactions.
- Metabolic disorders, for example - hypovitaminosis (especially deficiency of group B and vitamin C).
- Food poisoning, including juice from domestic flowers and plants.
- Diarrhea after expulsion of helminths.
All of the above are direct indicators of the use of this drug in veterinary medicine, so the question is: “Can activated carbon be given to cats and cats?” - not even worth it.
It remains to consider in what doses it can be taken, what the consequences of use are and decide how to give activated charcoal to a cat, kitten, cat.
Consequences of improper intake of activated carbon for cats.
Since activated carbon is still a medicine, and not a harmless dietary supplement, there are contraindications and restrictions for it. Moreover, contraindications and side effects are the same for both humans and any other animal, in particular cats.
Contraindications:
- ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract;
- internal bleeding;
- taking other medications, the quality of treatment of which is reduced due to the action of activated carbon;
- 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, causing hemorrhoids and breakthrough diarrhea;
- reduces the activity of gastric juice and other substances necessary for the breakdown of food (ipecac, etc.);
- the most harmless thing is coloring cat feces black.
Give your animal charcoal if it has diarrhea! But refrain from this action if your cat suffers from chronic diseases, and the doctor did not recommend taking activated charcoal without his advice. And remember: the use of any medicine, this also applies to black absorbent, should be dosed not only in grams, but also over time.
Since about 20% of all visits by cat owners to the veterinarian with the subsequent prescription of activated carbon are due to poisoning, it makes sense to learn to distinguish between types of poisoning and know in what doses and in combination with what drugs it should be taken.
Types of poisoning and doses of activated carbon for cats
Cats are poisoned not because they are stupid creatures, but because they are very curious and nosy. Proverb “Curiosity kills the cat!” - proof of this.
The second reason is cleanliness. Cats take such careful care of their fur that if there is a toxic substance on the fur, it will definitely get into your pet's stomach.
Symptoms of poisoning:
- Sudden nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
- Profuse drooling.
- 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, “chocked” breathing.
- Cough leading to vomiting.
A combination of 2-3 of these symptoms is enough for you to suspect poisoning in your cat and immediately call the veterinary clinic for an initial oral consultation. Delay is like death! - in the literal sense, especially if the cause of the poisoning has not been 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 to use activated carbon.
Dosage of activated carbon per cat head
Symptoms of poisoning usually appear after the poison (poison is NOT acid, alkalis or petroleum products!) has already entered the intestines from the stomach and has begun to be absorbed into the blood. It takes him about 2 hours to do this. Inducing vomiting, if there is none, in this case 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.
Suspension solution for colon cleansing: 10-20 g of powder, crushed tablets or granules per 100 ml of warm water (baby syringe).
This suspension is suitable for cleansing the cat’s body in case of any forms of poisoning and intoxication.
After carrying out the life-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 carbon per adult cat 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 obtain a mass resembling the consistency of liquid sour cream or thick cream.
Take this mixture into a syringe (without a needle, of course!) and inject it into the cat’s mouth.
So we get 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 try with all its might not to let you do this.
You have an advantage over a cat - you know that after 3 upper premolars and 2 lower ones, cats have no further teeth. This means that by pulling the cats’ lips back, you will find a hollow hole, exactly at the root of the cat’s tongue. The syringe pin fits perfectly into this hole. The algorithm of your actions will be as follows:
- Place the cat on your lap so that its back rests against your stomach.
- With your left hand, lift his head up, positioning your fingers so that you can easily pull the skin of his lip towards the back of his head. It is most convenient if your hand supports the cat's head from below.
- With your right hand, carefully 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 encourage him to take a sip.
You will have to repeat a similar procedure with activated carbon 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 has finished vomiting, it is no longer worth diluting the powder or tablets with water - this reduces its ability to be absorbed. Try giving your cat a charcoal tablet whole or in parts, placing it on the root of the tongue.
If necessary, add water in the same way. The daily norm is 1 glass per day.
The rest of the treatment will be prescribed by the doctor, but the fact that your pet will have to consume activated carbon for another 5-7 days is for sure! Everything will depend on the diagnosis and the medications the doctor prescribes.
Can activated charcoal be given to a pregnant or lactating cat?
Quite. Activated carbon itself is not absorbed into the intestines, it is completely eliminated from the body, which means it is safe for the cat itself, and for fetuses, and for suckling kittens. Cats often have diarrhea after giving birth or vomiting during pregnancy (toxicosis). In both cases, giving activated charcoal to cats is not prohibited.
Is it possible to cure diarrhea in a cat (cat, kitten) using activated charcoal??
And can it be used as a prophylactic?
