First Aid for Chemical Burns in Cats
Chemical burns in cats occur when household chemicals like cleaners are ingested, spill onto, or are walked on by the cat.
What to Do if You Know Your Cat Drank a Chemical
If you see your cat licking a chemical or can be reasonably sure that she did so, remove the product from her reach and contact your veterinarian immediately.
If the ingested chemical is corrosive, you may try to rinse out your cat's mouth with tap water, but you will need to use a syringe to do so.
You may also call the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661 with the product information to get further first aid instructions for that particular chemical.
What to Do If Your Cat's Skin Comes into Contact with a Chemical
- First, remove the chemical from the area.
- Next, flush the area of your cat's skin or fur that has the chemical on it with copious amounts of water for 5-10 minutes. If possible, call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline while you are doing this.
- If there is a visible burn on your cat's skin, pat the area dry after flushing with water, and cover it loosely with gauze, taped in place.
- Contact your veterinarian if you haven't already.
You can learn more about common cat emergencies and what to do about them here: "First Aid for Cats: An Overview."
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