Multiple cat poisoning

[lacherfleema]

Vet just called to check in. She doesn't think it sounds like antifreeze, she said they won't live if it is and the antibiotics wouldn't be helping. Gonna hope that it was the transmission fluid at least they may recover.

[Traci]

Call the vet and ask which is cheaper, an ethylene glycol test or a urine test......unfortunately, if this truly is antifreeze ingestion, they may be in the second stage of renal failure and the prognosis is NOT good without treatment. Only the ethylene glycol or urine test can tell for certain whether it was antifreeze toxicity. If antifreeze toxicity, chances are, there will be calcium oxalate crystals in the urine.

This could also be some other toxin as well, impossible to tell without testing (which is why tests need to be done in most cases).

Antifreeze tastes like sugar to cats, they don't know it is toxic, and toxicity occurs rapidly (within hours). If not properly treated in the first 6 hours, the prognosis for recovery is NOT good.

I hope you understand that ANY toxin has the potential to cause renal failure (or liver failure, or hemorrhage) and without proper treatment, these cases don't have a good outcome. Please call the vet back IMMEDIATELY and get some direction on which test is most conclusive at this point, talk about post-dated checks, anything, NOW.

[Traci]

Some transmission fluids ALSO CONTAIN ethylene glycol!

[lacherfleema]

Hows nontoxic real flame sound or motor oil. Antifreeze bottle in tact.

[lacherfleema]

Motor oil bottle had claw holes in it. Called vet and she said that it's a better prognosis. Probably be ok from either. She will check in another week. I have been on a rollercoaster of emotions for the last two hours, but I am smiling now. Well ok the last week. I will update.

[Traci]

The Real Flame is made of some sort of alcohol, that doesn't mean it isn't toxic if ingested. I think the manufacturers intend "non-toxic" as in fumes, if closeby and inhaled. I can't imagine anything burnable being non-toxic, regardless of the claims.

You said the antifreeze bottle was turned over and leaking on the shelf, so it is leaking or not?

I don't know how at least 6 cats could even be attracted to motor oil, was it anywhere near their food or water? Unless a food bag or container were saturated with motor oil, it is unlikely they ingested it.

The problem is, IF this was antifreeze, the toxicity occurs in three phases. The first phase is direct symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, incoordination, etc...then the second stage: symptoms seem to level off and the cat "appears" fine for a few days or a week or so. But, by the time of the third stage, the kidneys are already damaged and treatment is not possible, the cat is in renal failure.

The reason I suggest taking in a urine sample from at least one of the sickest cats is to detect calcium oxalate crystals in the urine, which would indicate a toxin such as antifreeze or some other sinister toxin. Did you ask the vet about this??

Please understand, I care about your cats and what has caused this, not saying I don't understand the costs involved, but I don't want you to undermine the problem. Please also understand I'm only going by what you provide in your posts. While it could be some sort of respiratory problem like distemper, the kittens most likely would not have survived past the first week of illness. Respiratory infections like rhinotracheitis on the other hand, or feline herpesvirus etc, usually have an incubation period of a week or more, meaning the other cats would NOT have gotten so sick within a day of one another. The fact that you had a number of cats get sick at the same time, with the same exact symptoms leads me to believe a toxin of some sort and I just want to you be sure it is ruled out properly.

[lacherfleema]

The antifreeze was tipped over but bottle was in tact, no leaks. There was an oil bottle that has what looks like four car claw puncture marks in it (did I mention alot of these cats have an extra paws in the front with three claws?) It had leaked on the antifreeze bottle. Sorry I couldn't tell at first, I just locked the cats out and started cleaning before I had really investigated. The oil spill was on the top of two shelves and ran through the top and second shelf forming some small drips on the floor. They are pretty deep shelves and they walk along the top one to jump on things and sleep on the second. So the oil is a strong possibility. The Real Flame was looked like a pretty old spill about the size of an orange and the run off only made it about half way around a small pot. This was in a corner of the second shelf. They don't sleep there but may randomly cross it. I had seen the cat that just started smacking again on the second shelf near the oil spill yesterday. Boy the cats are doing great. Can u post a picture here? I take this information as guidance and not advice. I worked directly in the medical field and I am aware that this is information to use and I appreciate it. Your words inspired me to keep looking. These cats more than likely might have had to go through this again. still hoping for the best, just happy feeling confident that it's not antifreeze.

[Traci]

Well, it could still be another type of toxic substance in or around the garage/yard or neighbor's. Could still also be a toxic plant. Could even be respiratory infection but it sure doesn't seem to me like that fits.

To post pictures, you have to have your photos uploaded to a web server online (like photobucket for example). If you have a photo storage place like photobucket online, check your account and it will give you directions on how to link a photo to a post on a forum like this one.