While the risk of mercury poisoning is probably very low for most cats, there are some steps you can take to help keep your cat as safe as possible. Image Credit: Kachalkina Veronika, Shutterstock How Can I Protect My Cat From Mercury Poisoning? Therefore, we have little information about the overall prevalence of methylmercury toxicity in cats and whether mildly affected patients are surviving. Symptoms can be similar to other neurologic conditions, so veterinarians may not consider testing for methylmercury and mild cases may be going undiagnosed. Other than the specific cases mentioned in this article, there are very few reports of confirmed methylmercury toxicity in cats. Cats who do survive may have permanent neurologic impairments and reduced kidney function. The damage to organs caused by methylmercury is irreversible, and the prognosis for severely affected patients is poor. There is currently no evidence to show that chelation therapy (which has been used in cases of acute poisoning caused by inorganic mercury salts) is helpful in these cases. Treatment involves providing supportive care and preventing further exposure. Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and. Exposure to mercury even small amounts may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. Unfortunately, there is no specific antidote for chronic methylmercury toxicity. Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. It can take several weeks for methylmercury to build up in the body to a level where signs of toxicity become apparent. Several recent studies (like this one) have raised concern about methylmercury levels in commercial pet foods. There was another report of cats with Minamata Disease in Ontario, Canada in the 1970s. It is usually diagnosed by a blood test or a test of the hair/fur. Dahlia: Mercury poisoning is pretty rare in cats, and in people. You may have heard of the “dancing cats” of Minamata, Japan, whose symptoms resulted from large amounts of mercury waste being dumped into Minamata Bay by a petrochemical plant in the 1950s (thousands of people were also affected). According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, signs of mercury poisoning in cats may include over-excitement, irritability, incoordination, convulsions, stiff hind legs, tremors and blindness. Historically, methylmercury poisoning has been observed in cats who consumed large amounts of contaminated fish. Since exposure to elemental and inorganic mercury is not very common in cats, this article will focus on mercury poisoning caused by chronic exposure to methylmercury. It exists in several forms, such as elemental mercury, found in some thermometers, inorganic mercury salts/compounds used in industry and the production of certain chemicals, and organic mercury (e.g., methylmercury) known to bioaccumulate through food chains, especially in fish.Ĭats are very sensitive to the effects of methylmercury in particular. Mercury is a heavy metal found everywhere in the environment. How Can I Protect My Cat From Mercury Poisoning? Tuna sushi, often made from large bluefin tuna, which are older and therefore have higher mercury levels, contains about 1.0 part per million mercury, putting it on a par with swordfish. Try replacing tuna-based foods with those made from fish that have lower concentrations of mercury, such as salmon.What Are the Signs of Mercury Poisoning in Cats? Canned albacore tuna and fresh/frozen tuna steaks contain 0.353 and 0.384 part per million mercury, respectively, about three times as much as canned light has. This can be a challenge, because tuna is a common ingredient in many cat foods, and cats tend to be very particular about which foods they'll eat. Occasional tuna treats are probably safe, but we advise against feeding your cat tuna-based foods on a daily basis. These rare indulgences should account for no more than 10 percent of your cat's daily calories. Until veterinarians know more, limit your cat's tuna consumption to occasional treats of canned chunk-light tuna-not albacore, which is from a larger species of tuna with mercury levels almost three times higher. So it's possible that mercury poisoning happens, but is not diagnosed. Because mercury toxicity is not common in cats, it may not be the first thing a veterinarian suspects. Signs of mercury poisoning in cats-loss of coordination and balance, difficulty walking-can mimic other illnesses, including thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency.
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