Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs of benzalkonium chloride poisoning in cats after household
By Bates, N & Edwards, N·Published in The Veterinary record·2015·Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Benzalkonium chloride exposure in cats: a retrospective analysis of 245 cases reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 245 cats were reported to have been exposed to benzalkonium chloride, a chemical found in many household cleaners. Symptoms included excessive drooling, tongue ulcers, and fever, with signs appearing as soon as five minutes after exposure. Most cats received treatments like antibiotics, fluids, and pain relief, and while 93.9% of the cats recovered, three sadly did not survive. The recovery time varied widely, averaging about four days for those that got better.
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Abstract
Benzalkonium chloride is commonly found in household products. This retrospective study examined 245 cases of feline exposure to benzalkonium chloride-containing products reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS). A single route of exposure was reported in 188 cats (ingestion 126, skin 58, buccal 4); 57 cats had multiple routes. The common products involved were household antibacterial cleaners (43.6 per cent), household disinfectants (22.3 per cent) and patio cleaners (17.5 per cent). The most common signs were hypersalivation/drooling (53.9 per cent), tongue ulceration (40.4 per cent), hyperthermia (40.4 per cent) and oral ulceration (22.9 per cent). The mean time recorded for onset of the first clinical sign was 6.4 hours (range five minutes to 48 hours, median 4.5 hours, n=60), however, the VPIS was not contacted until 14.0 ± 13.2 hours after exposure (n=120). This figure also reflects the time of presentation. The most common treatments given were antibiotics (82.0 per cent), fluids (50.2 per cent), analgesia (45.3 per cent), gastroprotectants (31.0 per cent), dermal decontamination (24.1 per cent) and steroids (22.7 per cent). 13 cats (5.3 per cent) received syringe or nasogastric feeding. Of 245 cats, 12 (4.9 per cent) remained asymptomatic, 230 (93.9 per cent) recovered and three died (1.2 per cent). The time to recovery ranged from 1 to 360 hours (n=67) with a mean of 100.4 ± 82.0 hours (4.2 ± 3.4 days, median 72 hours).
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25217381/