cat may have eaten v iagra...help

[jenniferc]

I need some advice...fast. I just found a half of a purple pill in my roomates bedroom, where the cats play and she said it was her friends viagr. She said he only had a half odf a pill...and I found a small half, but I am SO worried. Does anyone know how I would know if she is poisoned? How quickjly would she show signs and what would they be? I am freaking out...I NEVER bring meds in my house.

[Cleo]

If I'm not mistaken, V iagra is blue. In any case though and especially if you think the cat ate it, the best thing to do is call your vet. If they are gone and don't have an after hours service, I'd suggest getting to an ER vet right away.

[paschat]

Please take your cat and the half of the pill for id purposes, to the ER vet straight away.

[mamabear]

i'd have to agree on this one. VET ASAP! You have no clue what it could have been and the sooner treated the better. You can always take time later to hit your roommate in the head with a rolled up news paper for doing such a stupid thing. But for now get cat to vet asap!!!!!

Please let us know what vet says

[Traci]

Your post is really confusing. You found half a pill, the roommate said the guy only had a half of a pill. Does that mean the guy TOOK or DIDN'T take one half of a pill? Did anyone bother to find that out? Is the half of a pill you found the OTHER HALF of the original pill or what? Btw, if the "v agra" was prescribed by a physician, I doubt the physician would tell the guy to only take half a pill. Was the v iagra legit or some fly-by-night internet purchase or was it purchased in a dime store and labeled "all-natural", homeopathic, etc? If this was a "natural" product bought at some store, the risks are even higher because these products are crap, with added ingredients (herbs and adulterated substances) that can seriously harm a human, and worse, harm animals very seriously.

My other question, your roommate knows the cats play in this room, knew there was a v iagra pill somewhere and didn't bother to find it before the cats got to it?

WHEN was the pill taken by the guy, and WHEN was the other half found?

Why post on a strange internet forum when you could have taken the pill half and called your vet or an ER vet for guidance? If you think the time between the guy having the pill there, and the other half found was only recent, within hours to a couple days, there is no time to waste, you need to contact an emergency veterinarian RIGHT THIS MINUTE, and get any and all cats in for exam and possible testing to ensure they didn't ingest anything.

Sorry to sound so harsh but the guy and your roommate need to be told under NO circumstances should this EVER happen again when you have pets in the home! ALL human medications have the potential to seriously harm or even be lethal to pets. Don't take chances, call an ER vet RIGHT NOW, and if any of the cats are exhibiting any unusual signs of ill health or behavior, get them seen immediately!

[Cindy]

this is completely off topic, but I don't think I would have pets in a room-mate situation. I guess I just don't trust people.

[jenniferc]

Ok...update. And thanks for all of your replys. My cat is fine. I tried to find a vet to answer my question, but almost every one was closed that I tried, and the ones that did answer said they did not know what via_ra would do to cats.
I finally found one and he told me to watch her and get her respiration and heart rate to make sure they were normal. They were...whew! I did not leave her for a moment yesterday...I am sure I drove her crazy. Checked them every 15 minutes.
My cat is my baby and I was frantic. I don't keep any meds in my house for this very reason! My roomates friends carelessness blows my mind!!! I can't even get started...I agree with you traci. I will be thinking long and hard about my roomates choice of friends before they are allowed in our home. That was just plain careless. He knew I had a cat that I love more than life.
He said he was given the "half" of the pill from a friend and it must have fallen from his pocket. The writing on the half of the pill that I found was so faint I thought maybe my cat had it in her mouth and maybe injested a bit. I will never know. From Phizerz website, the writing did not match, so it must have been a cheap internet version. Even scarier??? I don't know.
I would have immediately rushed her to the vet if I wouldn"t have been told that there was only a half to start with. I cherish my cat and I would never put her in danger.
By the way...we do only natural cats food diets and I am SO picky about EVERYTHING that she puts in her mouth. I probably overreacted, but I would ratehr be safe than sorry when it comes to my baby. I searched for info all over the net and it couldn't be found.
Thank you each and every one of you that responded. My beautful kitty thanks you too! We will no longer be allowed to play in that room...

[Traci]

I tried to find a vet to answer my question, but almost every one was closed that I tried, and the ones that did answer said they did not know what via_ra would do to cats.

The first part of this sentence: most all vets have an answering service requiring you leave your name and number so they can call you back. There is usually ALWAYS at least one vet in any metropolitan area who takes emergencies, and who will return your call.

As for the second part of your sentence, that is not true. Vets have available to them the National Animal Poison Control Center to refer to, and also have text reference available to look up various medications and their effects. All any one of these vets had to do was call the NAPCC. They DO know what it can do to dogs, so the NAPCC would undoubtedly tell them the risks to cats and to get the cat(s) in for monitorization and IV fluid therapy and other emergency methods.

I finally found one and he told me to watch her and get her respiration and heart rate to make sure they were normal.

At least one of the vets had common sense to think of heart rate and respirations, since this is a major risk to HUMANS when using the drug.

My roomates friends carelessness blows my mind!!! I can't even get started...I agree with you traci. I will be thinking long and hard about my roomates choice of friends before they are allowed in our home. That was just plain careless. He knew I had a cat that I love more than life.
He said he was given the "half" of the pill from a friend and it must have fallen from his pocket. The writing on the half of the pill that I found was so faint I thought maybe my cat had it in her mouth and maybe injested a bit. I will never know. From Phizerz website, the writing did not match, so it must have been a cheap internet version. Even scarier???

Not only is your roomate an idiot, but so is the guy who brought this into your home and may have used it. First, he's an idiot for using someone else's medication IF it was prescribed. IF it was an over-the-counter herbal preparation, then he's an even bigger idiot for thinking it would work. Lastly, if this guy is younger than 40, chances are, he of course does not have ED and was probably only using this stuff for a cheap thrill, but he could very well have caused himself some serious damage, whether to his penis or to his heart, only a qualified physician could tell him or help him had he had a severe reaction. MANY herbal and other "natural" substances in products like this are deadly, they kill people every year! So, if this guy is going to be an idiot, maybe seriously consider talking to your roommate about his level of intelligence and warning her as well. NO person with drugs on their person, no matter WHAT the substance whether it is prescribed, "natural" or street drug, should EVER be allowed in your home with your cats, NEVER. Tell your roomate that, and if she doesn't oblige, tell her she can leave.

I would have immediately rushed her to the vet if I wouldn"t have been told that there was only a half to start with. I cherish my cat and I would never put her in danger.

It doesn't matter if it was half a pill or a quarter of a pill or 1/8 of a pill, it could be deadly within minutes to hours! NO human medication or over-the-counter product is safe for a cat, ALWAYS assume as much and whenever in doubt, ALWAYS check with a vet and get your cat(s) examined immediately! Many human medications and over-the-counter products are deadly to cats within minutes to hours, do not ever take that risk! For all you know, it may not even have been v iagra, but something else equally as harmful!

By the way...we do only natural cats food diets and I am SO picky about EVERYTHING that she puts in her mouth.

What do you mean by "natural" diet? "Natural" does not mean better and many "natural" substances are more harmful than other things.

[mamabear]

I would have to say if a vet told you they didnt know then they must have been being lazy. Shame on them!!! Good for you that you continued to call around and find someone to help you. If i recall I did think there was an animal poison control as well but you have to pay for it. Personally i'd pay if I couldnt find a vet to help. Glad you were able to find someone to say what to do but I am wondering why they didnt tell you to come in that night.

I'd also am curious about the food that you give kitty if ya don't mind.