There will always be a need for vets. That idea, plus my huge love of animals, has led me down the path of becoming a veterinarian. I have not graduated from my course yet, but the reason behind this blog is to share my learning journey. I intend to write blog posts on subjects like the veterinarian education path, my thoughts on whether to be a general or specialist vet and how I wish to use alternative treatments like acupuncture in my practice. If you too have a love of animals and want to make this your job, then my blog will be interesting to you.
Why Does Your Cat Need a Hospital Stay After Exposure to Lilies?
Lilies are toxic to cats. If you think that your cat has come into contact with these flowers or has eaten parts of one, then you should take it to your vet to be checked over.
If all is well, your pet will get a clean bill of health. However, your vet may prefer to keep your pet in the animal hospital for a while anyway. Why might your cat need a hospital stay?
Lily Poisoning Acts Fast
Cats don't always show immediate effects of lily poisoning, but they may go downhill fast if they have ingested lily pollen or parts of the flower itself. Your vet may simply want your pet on the premises so they can keep an eye on it for the next few hours.
If your pet does start to show symptoms of poisoning, then your vet can act immediately. If you'd taken your cat home, then you'd have to get it back to the clinic. Any delays here can be life-threatening.
Cats May Need a Variety of Tests
Even if your cat doesn't have any symptoms yet, your vet may want to run various tests to see if there is any evidence of lily poisoning. These include blood and urine tests and, in some cases, ultrasound scans.
It's easier if your cat is in the clinic's hospital while these tests are done and your vet waits for the results. If there are signs of poisoning, your vet can then start treatment immediately.
Early Clinic Treatment Saves Cats
If your vet has the slightest concern that your cat may have lily poisoning, then they will want to keep it on site to treat it. There's no antidote to this kind of poisoning; your vet will have to administer various treatments to try to fix the problem.
Some of these early treatments need to be given in a clinic environment. So, for example, your vet may give your cat something to make it vomit. This could wash some of the toxins out of its system before they reach its kidneys.
Your vet is also likely to want to put your cat on a fluid drip. Lily toxins badly affect cats' kidneys. Timed and regular fluid infusions help the kidney process the toxins and limit organ damage.
All being well, your cat won't have to stay in hospital for long. If it does develop problems after coming into contact with lilies, then this is the best place for it to be.