Mercury poisoning is a big issue, especially when it comes to fish and shellfish. Encephalomalacia, the loss of myelin, and necrosis of axons may also be evident. RELATED: Best Cat Food and Treats for Senior Cats. Siouxsie: They are used to treat infections of the skin, bladder, ears, kidneys, lungs (pneumonia), and prostate gland. Methylmercury is mutagenic, carcinogenic, embryotoxic, and highly teratogenic. The most concerning part when it comes to severe mercury poisoning is that it could lead to diverse neurological symptoms that could be permanent for your cat. Poisoning associated with various forms of mercury has declined in recent years. While cats in the wild hunt their food, indoor kitties rely on their cat parents to provide lunch. Consequently, bioaccumulation is extensive in tissues such as the brain, kidney, and fetus. Minamata disease (M. d.) is methylmercury (MeHg) poisoning that occurred in humans who ingested fish and shellfish contaminated by MeHg discharged in waste water from a chemical plant (Chisso Co. Ltd.). But a steady diet of tuna prepared for humans can lead to malnutrition. Lethargy A poisoned cat will be lethargic and present general weakness. The National Center for Health Research warns people with impaired kidney function that they can be harmed by mercury exposure when eating fish. And if you think your cat has consumed something that's toxic, call for emergency help at once. Most of the time, the symptoms are due to another illness or disease. Siouxsie: The high levels of mercury in tuna can be dangerous, too. Daily Paws is part of the Meredith National Digital Network. Vitamin E and selenium, which are antioxidants, may limit oxidative damage. And, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning. Predatory fish at the top of the food chain may contain very elevated levels of heavy metals (including mercury), as well as PCBs, pesticides and other toxins. . But dog food is not a substitute for cat food. This veterinarian-reviewed article goes over the causes and symptoms of food poisoning in cats. As they are obligate carnivores, their instinct is to eat meat. This highly toxic form of mercury produces corrosive bronchitis and interstitial pneumonia. It makes sense to also limit the amount of fish your cat eats. Symptoms include loss of appetite, fever and hypersensitivity to touch due to inflammation and necrosis of fat under the skin. Its the cause of most of the major kidney failures. In fact, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methylmercury. Im concerned that he may have mercury poisoning as I have given him tuna on a regular basis. The FDA has not established toxic levels of heavy metals in pet foods. That's true even for the onion powder that's found in some baby foods. The Dangers of Mercury Poisoning in Cats: How to Safely Feed Fish to Your Feline. April 13, 2021 -- Two lots of 30-pound bags of Meow Mix Original Choice Dry Cat Food have been recalled by the J.M. If you believe your cat has ingested mercury, contact your vet and call the Pet Poison Control Hotline at (855) 764-7661. December 15, 2021, 12:43 PM. In fact, many commercial cat foods contain tuna as an ingredient. In humans, symptoms of methylmercury poisoning may include peripheral vision impairment, sensory disturbances (pins and needles), lack of coordination, muscle weakness, and problems with speech, hearing and walking. Consider topics you know well and/or that will offer special interest and appeal to our readers. Use for phrases Can my cat get mercury poisoning from fish? Creative commons photos used in posts must be shared with original artist credits intact. Mercury poisoning: the real threat for dogs and cats Remember that your pets can get poisoned if they actually absorb mercury and the easiest way for this to happen is through food and water. Chronic exposure in fish and wildlife species associated with the bioaccumulation of mercury in the environment remains a problem. Depending on the level of exposure to organic mercury compounds such as methylmercury, clinical manifestations may take days to develop. They contain a cyanide-type compound and signs of toxicity include apprehension, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation, and shock. It is often referred to as arsenic metal, and for toxicological purposes read more , thallium, or cadmium; insecticides Overview of Insecticide and Acaricide (Organic) Toxicosis in Animals Insecticides are any substance or a mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate insects. Is it ever too late to learn an instrument? "It's best to avoid feeding kitten food with fish ingredients. ", Today. The veterinarian might also prescribe vitamins such as vitamin E and selenium. . Unfortunately, health laws for meat and fish in pet foods are much more lenient than they are for human foods. I went onto tuna as an alternative to prawns as they were expensive but they might be a more satisfying once a week treat. When a cat eats tuna as its main diet, it ingests far more mercury on a body-weight basis than a human doeseven a person who eats a lot of tuna. Photo: Svetlana Rey / Shutterstock, Cailin Heinze, a veterinary nutritionist and assistant professor at the Cummings School, responds. Many illnesses can mimic cat food poisoning. Thank you for your interest in writing for Animal Wellness. The organic forms of mercury, primarily methylmercury, are lipid soluble and well absorbed orally. Small amounts of liver are OK, but eating too much liver can cause vitamin A toxicity. Winners will be notified by phone or email and winning photos will appear in a future issue of Animal Wellness. Tuna also provides the omega-3 essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, which can contribute to overall skin and coat health and may also help . Food poisoning symptoms can last for days to weeks. We make no pretense of being veterinarians and we don't know anything about your specific cat's health or behavior history. Overview of Insecticide and Acaricide (Organic) Toxicosis in Animals. If your cat is indeed suffering from mercury poisoning, your vet will prescribe charcoal tablets and other medications that will help limit the absorption of mercury. I have noticed that he sometimes prefers to climb the chair arm rather than jump these days and has also objected to being touched on his back legs at times. Skin rashes can also be a sign of food poisoning . Can cats recover from poisoning? But just like milk isn't the best option when it comes to your cat's diet (they are obligate carnivores, afterall), fish has its limitations, too. Dehydration can cause pale gums and persistent thirst, so you may notice your cat drinking more water than usual. You can also contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number, a 24/7 hotline for animal-related emergencies. Mercury poisoning is a scary issue that puts the life of our pets in danger. Sadly, the neurological and kidney damage caused by mercury poisoning in cats is often irreversible. There are a lot of fish in the seabut which are safe for your cat to eat and how . The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. Dahlia: In short, the cause of your cats symptoms is likely to be something much more common (horses) than mercury poisoning (zebras). Hard copy photos must have contact information on the back. chemical plant fed food mixed with wastewater to cats. CAN: 202-160 Charlotte St., Peterborough, ON K9J 2T8. We reserve the right to publish all photos in Animal Wellness Magazine, and on our website. I had a mercury blood level drawn from the younger cat but the sample was drawn two weeks after stopping the feeding of canned tuna, results were inconclusive. 4. Containing 10 cans each of four delectable flavors, this 40-count variety pack gives her the seafood flavor she craves at mealtime. Mercury poisoning wont appear after the consumption of a small amount of fish, so avoid constantly feeding your cat raw fish, canned tuna, mackerels, or other types of cat food that contain a large amount of mercury. Siouxsie: If a diagnostic test indicates that your cat has mercury poisoning, a therapy called chelation can be done to eliminate the mercury from his body. A steady diet of dog food can cause your cat to be severely malnourished. Just two teaspoons of whisky can cause a coma in a 5-pound cat, and one more teaspoon could kill it. Cerebellar atrophy or hypoplasia and Purkinje cell degeneration are seen. But it's best to keep it small and infrequent. Symptoms of methyl mercury poisoning are many. Antifreeze is a common cause of poisoning in small animals. I did find some interesting articles though: Here is an article that looked at mercury levels in tissues of cats fed mercury contaminated tuna. Bones can also splinter and cause an obstruction or cut the insideof your cat's digestive system. In addition, heavy salivation, tremors, and seizures may also signal liver damage. The fish and shellfish found in many cat foods are the main source of mercury exposure in felines. Mercury irreversibly inhibits selenium-dependent enzymes. You may notice some diarrhea and vomiting as the first signs of food poisoning. by The Paws and Effect Gang | Feb 6, 2011 | Cat Health | 8 comments. "Modern cats may develop organic mercury poisoning over time if they primarily eat cat food containing tuna, mackerel, and other types of seafood," says Jenna Stregowski, RVT and Daily Paws' health and behavior editor. However, the most detrimental effects of food poisoning occur in the kidneys. It was in May 1956, that M. d. was first officially "discovered" in Minamata City, south-west region of Japan's Kyushu Island. Thomas: However, we hope weve helped you to know what questions to ask your vet when you take your cat back to the clinic. Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links; we will earn a commision, at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase through one of our links. Eating too much too often can do the same thing to cats that it does to humans. Mainly, too much fish over a long period of time could lead to mercury poisoning in cats. Yes, I would like to subscribe to your newsletter for information on natural health, products, and great deals! Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors. A common culprit is none other than your cat's favorite snacktuna (deep breath, tuna is okay in moderation). Cats are carnivores and need meat. Ive never seen a report of mercury poisoning in a cat fed tuna-based commercial cat food. Remember the saying, "Honest as a cat when the meat's out of reach." Veterinarian Dr. Deva Khalsa authored Dr. Khalsas The Natural Dog and co-authored Healing Your Horse: Alternative Therapies. In cats, mercury accumulates in the kidney, causing impaired kidney functions. But now were going to tell you about one of our favorite axioms, the Horses, Not Zebras Theory. Common poisons include human medications, insecticides, household cleaners, plants and rodenticides. The best way to treat cat poisoning is to prevent it entirely. Before submitting to Animal Wellness, we ask that you familiarize yourself with our publication so that you have a strong sense of the type of articles we publish. Inorganic forms of mercury bind to sulfhydryl groups in enzymes and other thiol-containing molecules such as cysteine and glutathione. A lack of thiamine can cause serious neurological problems and lead to convulsions and coma. Compromised kidney function in cats over ten or 12 years of age is epidemic. So it's possible that mercury poisoning happens, but is not diagnosed. A good rule of thumb is to feed your kitty fish a maximum of two times a week to avoid unnecessary mercury exposure. Siouxsie: Our research indicates that while an occasional tuna treat is okay, there are a number of hazards to regularly feeding tuna to your cat.