Intoxication in cats attended in a veterinary teaching hospital of São Paulo city: a retrospective analysis from 2010 to 2021

Abstract

The increase in the pet population in Brazil with the greater proximity of the coexistence of cats with humans and the owner’s lack of knowledge about feline particulars can favor the occurrence of toxicosis. Thus, the present study performs a retrospective survey of poisoning in cats registered by the Daily Care Records of cats received at the Veterinary Hospital (Hovet) of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at the University of São Paulo (FMVZ-USP), from January 2010 to December 2021. The results showed that the annual occurrence of cases of poisoning in cats ranged from 0.71% (5/704) to 2.68% (9/336), and the main agents responsible for poisoning were anticholinesterase pesticides, such as carbamates and organophosphates ( 50% - 48/96), and medications, in particular, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (31,25% - 30/96). There were also cases in which it was not possible to identify the substance involved (7.29% - 7/96), which makes the therapeutic approach difficult. In these cases, it is important to make a differential diagnosis to potential cases of intoxication according to clinic signs and clinic history, in addition to collecting samples for toxicologic analysis. In urgent cases, measures must be used to maintain the animal’s vital functions and, later, supportive measures for the animal.