Medication
Paracetamol / Acetaminophen
Emergency for cats at any dose. Never give human painkillers to any animal.
Life-threateningCatsDogsFerrets
What to do right now
- 1.Go to an emergency vet immediately
- 2.Bring the packet so the dose can be calculated
- 3.Do not give any further medication
Symptoms
- Brown or blue-tinged gums
- Facial and paw swelling
- Laboured breathing
- Vomiting
- Collapse
Details
- Category
- Medication
- Toxicity
- Life-threatening
- Species affected
- Cats, Dogs, Ferrets
- Routes of exposure
- Given by well-meaning owners, or dropped tablets eaten from the floor
- Urgency
- Emergency for cats at any dose. Never give human painkillers to any animal.
Veterinary treatment
Cats lack the enzyme needed to metabolise paracetamol safely, resulting in methaemoglobinaemia and liver damage. Acetylcysteine is the main antidote.