Symptoms of Melamine Cat Poison

Melamine became a household word among pet guardians during the pet food recalls in 2007. More than 150 brands of pet food were recalled, including moist, canned and dry foods, as well as treats. The recalls occurred after four cats and one dog died after eating the affected food, along with nine cats who died during routine taste trials conducted by Menu Foods. Eventually, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's laboratories found that the cause was melamine and melamine-related compounds in the food. Cornell University found melamine in the urine and kidneys of the cats that died.

Melamine

An industrial chemical, melamine is a small nitrogen-based molecule with uses that include a binding agent, a flame retardant and as a polymer in manufacturing cooking utensils and plates. In some parts of the world it is used as a fertilizer. It is not approved for use in human or animals foods, or as a fertilizer, in the United States.

Acute Renal Failure

Melamine and a melamine-related compound, cyanuric acid, cause crystals to form in urine and in kidney tissues, which lead to kidney failure. Studies indicate that cats are more susceptible to the poisoning than dogs. Symptoms usually occur within three to four days of the pet ingesting melamine. Initial symptoms will include loss of appetite, loss of energy and vomiting.

Symptoms

Additional symptoms of acute renal failure include excessive urination, increased thirst, nausea and gagging, licking lips, grinding or cracking sounds in the jaw, drooling, dehydration, hunching over water bowl, stomach upset, constipation, weight loss, muscle wasting, emaciation, poor coat, halitosis, sensitivity to sound, eating litter, weakness, depression, oral ulcers, convulsions, low temperature and a coma in its final stages. Symptoms generally aren't seen until 75 percent of the kidney tissue is nonfunctional.

Diagnosis

If your cat is showing symptoms of renal failure, it is an emergency and the pet should be taken to a veterinarian or an emergency animal clinic immediately. A blood test will be conducted to determine if the cause of the symptoms is indeed renal failure. Laboratory tests and a urinalysis will also likely be conducted.

Prognosis

Acute renal failure is the abrupt shutdown of the kidneys and it can be quickly fatal. Prognosis is not good if this is the diagnosis your cat receives. If the failure was caught early, damage is not too severe, and medical intervention is aggressive, it is possible for kidney function to be restored.

Chronic Renal Failure

Acute renal failure can become chronic renal failure, for which there is no cure. It cannot be reversed. Eventually blood toxins build up. The cat is also likely to become anemic. This causes weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite and weakness. Some cats can have a good quality of life for months and even years, if their condition is managed. Others succumbed to the illness quickly.

Treatment

While chronic renal failure is irreversible, there are steps to keep your cat as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Drugs can minimize the anemia. Feed your cat a high-moisture diet if she will eat it. If she will not, let her eat anything that she will consume. Weight loss is the biggest factor in keeping cats with chronic renal failure as healthy as possible as long as possible.

References

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• DVM360
• Little Big Cat