There are a lot of Pisces in the sea — but which are safe for your kat to eat and how often ? Here ’s what you should cognize about mercury toxic condition in cats .

pluck up a childhood picture Holy Writ and you ’ll believably find a cat happily lapping up a dish aerial ofmilk . rick the page and he ’s probably go on to the next class — a whole fish . But just like milk is n’t the best option when it comes to yourcat ’s diet(they areobligate carnivore , afterall ) , Pisces has its limitations , too . chiefly , too much Pisces over a recollective period of time could lead to mercury poisoning in cats .

" New cats may developorganic mercury poisoningover time if they primarily eat cat food containing tuna , mackerel , and other types of seafood , " tell Jenna Stregowski , RVT and Daily Paws ' health and behavior editor . " Toxic result incline to build up after prolonged uptake of seafood that causes a buildup of Hg in the body . "

cat eating tuna from a plate, mercury poisoning in cats

insonnia / Getty

How Do Cats Get Mercury Poisoning?

Lucky for us and our pets , Hg poisoning is less rough-cut than it once was . Historically , Hg was used in household , medical , and industrial product and could lead toinorganic atomic number 80 poisoningif take in or inhaled . today , your Caterpillar is n’t at risk of exposure of mercury poisoning if she get her paws on a New menage thermometer , but trace amounts of mercury could be lurking somewhere else in your abode .

Large Pisces , like other predators at the top of the nutrient chain , amass organic mercuryand other toxins from their dietetical sources . When these fish are corrode ( by you , me , or our cat ) , the atomic number 80 is also take and take up into the dead body . A coarse culprit is none other than your cat ’s favorite snack — tuna(deep breath , tunny is fine in moderation ) .

If it seems fishy that commercial-grade bozo food and dainty include Pisces the Fishes , Stregowski say extra precautions can be withdraw . " It ’s best to avoid feedingkitten foodwith fish ingredients . minuscule amounts of seafood can be have as an occasional treat and should make up no more than ten percent of your kitty ’s even diet , " Stregowski explains .

As for a little bit ofcooked Salmon River skin(or tuna ! ) as a delicacy for your adult computerized axial tomography , Stregowski says that ’s a - okeh in mitigation . Just limit particular kickshaw to no more thanten percent of your cat ’s regular dietand rotate protein sources . When choose Pisces as a rotating goody or a portion of a nail and balanced meal , small Pisces like sardines in bounce water or freeze - dried minnows are a honorable choice .

Signs and Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning in Cats

If your CT has have too much hydrargyrum over a protract amount of time , he may begin to expose sure symptoms . Stregowski says to keep an centre out for these sign of atomic number 80 poisoning in CAT .

The symptom of Hg poisoning in Arabian tea can look a caboodle like other reactions topoison ingestion , vitamin B1 deficiency , brain tumors , and other ailments cause neurological handicap , Stregowski says . Only your veterinarian can specify the cause of symptoms with symptomatic testing .

How to Treat Mercury Poisoning in Cats

Sadly , the neurological andkidneydamage because of mercury toxic condition in cat is often irreversible . In the uncommon case that your cat recently ingest a large amount of inorganic quicksilver , for representative by absorb abutton cadre battery , your vet can administrate activate charcoal gray and other federal agent that can prevent absorption by the body .

If you believe your cat has ingested hydrargyrum , get hold of your veterinary surgeon and call the Pet Poison Control Hotline at ( 855 ) 764 - 7661 .

The best treatment is by preventing atomic number 80 intoxication in the first place , so be sure to keep dangerous products lock in forth out of your cat ’s stretch and limit the amount of Pisces the Fishes they go through .

How to Safely Provide Your Cat Healthy Omega-3’s

You might be wondering if there ’s a safe means to admit omega-3 fatty acid in your cat ’s meals without sacrificing one of your cat’snine livesto mercury poisoning . Stregowski says yes , and many cat - specific omega-3 supplements and fish oils are typically test for dangerous chemical compound to assure safety . As always , ask your trusted veterinary about the increase ofsupplementsto your computed axial tomography ’s diet .