The light sweet scent makes the fluffy flowers a timeless delight for all our senses. These “crown” flowers as they are called in Greek, a language that their name originates from, are known to be poisonous to animals including your pet cat.
Below is an elaboration of how they affect your cat.
What is Carnation Poisoning?
To the world of science, carnations are known as Dianthus caryophyllus, while the rest of the world conceptualizes them as sweet William, wild carnations, or pinks. Carnations are flowers adorned by many. They are characterized by their grey to green leaves and fluffy flowers that bloom from oink to very dark pink coloration. Europe, North Africa, and North America are typical grounds where they grow.
A mild toxicity noticed in pets, especially cats is caused by ingestion of the carnation stem, leaves, or petals of the plant. In cats and other felines, carnations cause poisoning that can result in gastrointestinal upset. Vomiting and diarrhea are the first signs you will notice.
There might be signs of dermatitis as well, due to triterpenoid saponins which are contained in carnations. This substance can cause esophagus and stomach irritation.
No records of fatal outcomes have been recorded regarding carnation toxicity in cats, but when the issue occurs it has to be taken seriously.
Symptoms of Carnation Poisoning in Cats
Clinical signs of carnation poisoning in the cat are gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting. Cats may get sick one or more times which merely depends on the quantity of the plant the cat has consumed. Secondary symptoms are what comes next. So, the cat may become dehydrated, weak, and lose its appetite.
There is a sap in the carnation plant that may cause an allergic reaction, dermatitis. Take a look at your cat’s mouth and check if it is swollen and red or in any other way looks irritated. All the previous symptoms connected to carnation toxicity and poisoning in your cat are short-lasting and visible for a few hours.
Carnation poisoning may cause pain in cats. You will notice that it is moving around you trying to show you that something is wrong. Cats may express it through vocalizations and seek assistance from you to help them with the discomfort. Cats may whine and meow more than they often do.
Causes of Carnation Poisoning
Carnation is toxic for cats, that is a fact. The poisoning will appear as a consequence of your cat having tried the leaves, petals, stem, or even the carnation seeds. It hasn’t been investigated how exactly toxic the carnation can be, but scientists know for sure that what makes the plant toxic and poisonous for cats is the presence of the steroidal saponins substance.
This component is poisonous and toxic for mammals. An allergic irritation or dermatitis is also caused by the same substance. This irritant is also a reason for all the gastrointestinal problems that a cat can suffer from.
Diagnosis of Carnation Poisoning
Your vet and you can just suspect that it is carnation poisoning because there still aren’t any diagnostic tests that will identify the carnation poisoning. Your Vet will take into consideration all the possible issues that could bring the cat to the condition you are dealing with and will follow the protocol to diagnose the closest condition.
The process of diagnosis usually starts with a physical check-up, anamnesis of your cat’s health, and a short conversation with you. While talking to the vet you should mention every detail connected to your cat’s activities and behavior or a possible exposure to a carnation or any other plant.
Carnation poisoning is diagnosed by symptoms that can occur in other cat conditions, so there may be a need to make several tests that will lead the vet in the right direction and diagnose carnation poisoning.
Most likely the tests to be made are CBS (complete blood test), Biochemical profile, Blood smear test, Urinalysis, Fecal floatation test, and Fecal examination.
Treatment of Carnation Poisoning in Cats
Carnation toxicity in cats is only a mild poisoning, so a special treatment to cure this condition has not been made yet. The cat’s body is doing the job by itself removing the toxins through vomiting, or diarrhea. Besides this, the cat may still need a vet’s help to induce vomiting and rehydrate it.
Drugs that induce vomiting may be prescribed to the cat and an intravenous therapy may also be paired with them. The veterinary medication treatment may include some medications that are going to prevent further stomach discomfort in the cat after carnation poisoning.
After the vet’s treatment, the cat will be fit in a few days, but it is most important to prevent the cat from close contact with a carnation plant. The cat should consume a large amount of water, more than usual, so further toxins will be eliminated from its body. All the activities that are common for your cat will return to normal after taking the therapy.
The vet must be informed and consultation with him is very important when there is any suspicion that your cat has taken any part of the carnation plant.
If your cat is focused on plants at home and likes nibbling on a leaf or a flower from the garden it should make you worried a bit, since you never know when it may try it and cause problems. Cat owners are frequently complaining about their cat’s curiosity about plants. Carnations as plants are toxic for cats although in a mild and non-fatal way.
