Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
What happens when cats eat toxic lilies and how owners respond
By Slater, Margaret R & Gwaltney-Brant, Sharon·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2011·Animal Health Services, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Exposure circumstances and outcomes of 48 households with 57 cats exposed to toxic lily species.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 57 cats were exposed to toxic lilies, which can cause serious kidney problems. Many cat owners were unaware that lilies were dangerous, leading to the flowers being left where the cats could reach them. Fortunately, 93% of the cats received prompt veterinary care, and most either showed no symptoms or had only mild, short-lived signs. However, 5% of the cats developed kidney issues, and another 5% were euthanized due to severe renal failure. It's crucial for cat owners to know that lilies are toxic and to keep them out of reach.
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Abstract
Ingestion of Lilium or Hemerocallis spp. by cats can result in renal failure. The objectives of this study were to determine the foreknowledge of lily toxicity of owners of cats that were exposed to lilies and to obtain historical, clinical and outcome information on the exposures. A survey was done of cat owners reporting indoor exposures to lilies to the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) during April 2009. Forty eight individuals, (57 cats) were included. Sixty nine percent of cat owners said they could recognize a lily and 27% knew that lilies were toxic prior to their cats' exposures. Most lilies were obtained from grocery or other stores, and were purchased by the owners or as gifts to the cat owners. Owners who were unaware of lily toxicity frequently left the flowers where the cats had access to them, whereas in households where the toxicity was known the cats actively sought out the flowers. Of the cats in this study 93% received prompt veterinary care, and 87% either developed no signs or had brief signs that resolved. Five percent had evidence of renal insufficiency at final follow-up and another 5 percent of cats were euthanized due to renal failure.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22058344/