How to Tell If an Adult Cat Has a Vitamin A Toxicity
Typically, vitamin A toxicity in an adult cat occurs when the animal eats too much food that contains excessive amounts of liver. It also can occur if the cat has been given inappropriate amounts of supplements that contain vitamin A, such as fish liver oils, according to the veterinary website PetPlace.com. Cats that experience vitamin A toxicity usually display the same symptoms; however, the only way to know for sure is through a blood test.
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Instructions
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Observe your cat. Watch for any behavioral changes such as lethargy, anorexia and constipation. These are all signs of vitamin A toxicity.
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Look for any physical problems developing in your cat. Cats with vitamin A toxicity usually lose weight, limp on the front legs, become sensitive in the neck and forelimb areas, and display stiffness.
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Take your cat to its veterinarian for blood tests. The vet can run tests that will check the amounts of vitamin A in your cat's blood.
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Tips & Warnings
Vitamins A and D are the only vitamins that can cause problems for cats when given in excess amounts, according to the animal information website PetEducation.com. Cats can develop problems with vitamin A because they are not very good at converting the plant pigment carotene--which is the main source of the vitamin in question--to usable vitamin A.
It is difficult for a cat to ingest too much vitamin A; it would have to eat a particularly large amount to do so. A cat would have to ingest 340,900 IU per pound of food daily for several months to experience any problems.
Treatment of vitamin A toxicity typically includes discontinuation of the vitamin and intravenous fluids.
References
- Photo Credit two red cats image by Alexandra Gnatush-Kostenko from Fotolia.com
