Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cats exposed to melamine-contaminated food showed vomiting and kidney
By Cianciolo, Rachel E et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2008·Department of Pathology and Toxicology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinicopathologic, histologic, and toxicologic findings in 70 cats inadvertently exposed to pet food contaminated with melamine and cyanuric acid.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 70 cats from a cattery became sick after eating pet food contaminated with melamine and cyanuric acid, which had been recalled in March 2007. Many of these cats showed symptoms like not eating, vomiting, increased thirst and urination, and lethargy. Blood tests revealed kidney issues in 38 of the cats, and sadly, one cat died while 13 others had to be euthanized due to severe kidney damage. The examination of kidney tissues showed significant damage and inflammation. This case highlights the dangers of contaminated pet food and its serious effects on cats' health.
People also search for: cat vomiting and lethargy · cat kidney problems from food · melamine poisoning in cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To document clinicopathologic, histologic, and toxicologic findings in cats inadvertently exposed to pet food contaminated with melamine and cyanuric acid. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 70 cats from a single cattery inadvertently fed contaminated food that was the subject of a March 2007 recall. PROCEDURES: Clinical signs, clinicopathologic and histopathologic findings, and results of toxicologic analyses were recorded. RESULTS: Clinical signs were identified in 43 cats and included inappetence, vomiting, polyuria, polydipsia, and lethargy. Azotemia was documented in 38 of the 68 cats for which serum biochemical analyses were performed 7 to 11 days after consumption of the contaminated food. One cat died, and 13 were euthanized. Histologic examination of kidney specimens from 13 cats revealed intratubular crystalluria, tubular necrosis with regeneration, and subcapsular perivascular inflammation characterized by perivascular fibroplasia or fibrosis and inflammation with intravascular fibrin thrombi. Toxicologic analyses revealed melamine and cyanuric acid in samples of cat food, vomitus, urine, and kidneys. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In cats unintentionally fed pet food contaminated with melamine and cyanuric acid, the most consistent clinical and pathologic abnormalities were associated with the urinary tract, specifically tubular necrosis and crystalluria.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18764706/