Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lily poisoning causing kidney failure in six cats and their outcomes
By Langston, Cathy E·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2002·Bobst Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Acute renal failure caused by lily ingestion in six cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Six cats developed acute kidney failure after eating Easter or tiger lilies. They were treated with medications, and two of them needed hemodialysis, which is a procedure to filter waste from the blood. Out of the six, three cats survived for over a year and a half despite having chronic kidney issues, while two cats sadly passed away despite treatment, and one was euthanized shortly after diagnosis. Cats that did not show severe symptoms at the start had a better chance of recovery. If your cat has eaten lilies, it's crucial to seek veterinary help immediately.
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Abstract
Acute renal failure was diagnosed in 6 cats that had ingested Easter lily or tiger lily plants. All 6 were treated medically; 2 underwent hemodialysis. Three cats survived the acute episode, and although they had chronic renal failure, they survived for more than 1.5 years. Two cats died despite aggressive medical management, including hemodialysis. One cat was euthanatized shortly after the diagnosis was made. Three of the cats were oliguric or anuric at the time of initial examination, and all 3 died. None of the 3 cats that survived had oliguria or anuria. Various members of the lily family (Liliaceae) can cause nephrotoxicosis in cats, but the toxic principle is not known. Although the prognosis for full recovery of cats with lily toxicosis is poor, long-term survival is possible with supportive care. The prognosis appears to be better for cats with nonoliguric renal failure.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12680447/