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Vitamin K1 (phytonadione) is mostly used to deal with cats who’ve eaten rat poison.
Vitamin Okay is a fat-soluble vitamin wanted to supply elements concerned in bone mineralization and regular blood clotting. In case your cat doesn’t have sufficient vitamin Okay, there could be a delay of their blood clotting. This causes a danger of spontaneous and uncontrolled bleeding.
Vitamin Okay for Cats Overview
Kind:
Injectable, tablets, capsules, compounded liquid
Prescription Required?:
Sure
Model Names:
No licensed veterinary preparations. Human preparations might have a commerce identify similar to Konakion® or Mephyton®. Or it could simply be known as Vitamin K1 or Phytomenadione.
Frequent Names:
Vitamin K1, Phytomenadione
Out there Dosages:
Injectable 10mg/ml, tablets/capsules fluctuate
Expiration Vary:
Tablets sometimes have a shelf lifetime of 1-2 years when saved correctly. Injectable options might have shorter shelf lives after opening. All the time verify product labeling for particulars.
Many mouse and rat poisons work by inducing a vitamin Okay deficiency, leading to deadly inner bleeding. In case your cat ingests rat poison, your veterinarian will deal with them with vitamin Okay to counteract the poison’s results. Fortunately, if began rapidly, this may be very efficient.
Cats may also grow to be vitamin Okay poor if they’ve issues with their liver, gallbladder, or fats absorption.
Learn on for every part it’s good to find out about vitamin Okay and cats, together with when it’s prescribed, tips on how to administer it, and what to look out for in case your cat is taking it.
About Vitamin Okay for Cats
Vitamin Okay is used as an antidote for cats who’ve unintentionally ingested mouse or rat poison.
Picture Credit score: Viacheslav Lopatin / Shutterstock.com
Vitamin Okay is a necessary vitamin, that means it isn’t made within the physique and your cat should eat sufficient of their food plan to remain wholesome. In case your cat eats a nutritionally full, balanced food plan, they may obtain sufficient vitamin Okay. So, it isn’t one thing it’s good to complement in a standard cat.
Due to its essential function in blood clotting, cats who’re poor in vitamin Okay can undergo from severe bleeding issues. The most typical reason behind vitamin Okay deficiency in cats is rodenticide poisoning, which happens in case your cat eats poison designed to kill rodents similar to rats and mice. Many varieties of rodenticide poisons are ‘anticoagulant’ – they work by inflicting extreme vitamin Okay deficiencies within the rodent, resulting in deadly inner bleeding. Cats who ingest the poison are affected in the identical manner and may undergo from life-threatening spontaneous bleeding.
Much less generally, vitamin Okay deficiency might be brought on by sure liver situations, gall bladder obstructions, fats absorption issues, and continual antibiotic use.
Vitamin Okay deficiency is handled by administering vitamin Okay medicine. This replaces the misplaced vitamin Okay, permitting your cat’s blood to clot usually. It normally begins to work inside 24-48 hours.
Particular Precautions for Cats Receiving Vitamin Okay
Your cat could have been prescribed vitamin Okay medicine as a result of they’ve low ranges of their physique. This implies they’re liable to bruising and spontaneous bleeding, so you will need to deal with them gently.
Cats must be stored quiet and calm whereas they’re receiving therapy. You must attempt to forestall your cat from leaping or strenuous enjoying, to scale back the chance of harm. This would possibly imply confining them to 1 quiet space of the home for the primary week or so. They need to be stored inside till they’re absolutely recovered.
Dosing Info for Cats
Observe: This data doesn’t change a vet go to. Whereas these are the commonest dosages, it is best to seek the advice of together with your cat’s veterinarian on the precise dose and therapy protocol
Injectable Vitamin Okay
Vitamin Okay remedy will normally begin with a course of injections earlier than being continued with tablets at residence for a number of weeks. H_Ko / Shutterstock.com
In an emergency, similar to ingestion of anticoagulant rodenticides, your veterinarian would administer vitamin Okay as an injection underneath your cat’s pores and skin as this works sooner than oral medicine. The dose vary is 0.25 – 2.5 mg per kg physique weight.
In case your cat has indicators of bleeding, your veterinarian might start with a high-dose injection. This can be adopted by a decrease dose each 12 hours till lively bleeding has stopped. At this level, your cat can be moved onto oral vitamin Okay medicine – normally inside 1-3 days.
Oral Vitamin Okay
There are not any licensed veterinary merchandise containing vitamin Okay for cats. So, it is not uncommon to make use of human medicines as a substitute. That is known as ‘off label’ use and should solely be carried out underneath the course of your veterinarian.
Oral vitamin Okay is accessible in tablets, capsules, and compounded liquids. It’s normally given twice a day, about 12 hours aside. Your veterinarian might advocate a tapering dose – one which begins increased and is step by step decreased – to wean your cat off gently. Whereas dosing is particular person to every case, it’s more likely to be within the vary of 0.25 – 2.5 mg per kg of physique weight.
Oral vitamin Okay is normally continued for a number of weeks. Your cat may have blood checks to verify the medicine is working and their blood is clotting usually earlier than stopping.
The right way to Administer Vitamin Okay to Cats
Your cat will want oral vitamin Okay medicine for a number of weeks till their blood is clotting usually. Dora Zett / Shutterstock.com
Vitamin Okay is greatest absorbed when given with meals, particularly fatty meals. You could possibly cover a pill or capsule in a strong-flavored tasty deal with. In case your cat has been prescribed a liquid, you could possibly combine it right into a moist meals. Test together with your veterinarian which meals to make use of, as some cats might must keep away from high-fat meals (for example, if liable to pancreatitis).
In case your cat won’t eat a pill you might must administer it straight into the again of their mouth. See this information for How To Give Your Cat a Capsule. Make sure you give them a fatty meal or deal with after their medicine to make sure it’s absorbed successfully.
Aspect Results of Vitamin Okay for Cats
Vitamin Okay tablets are normally effectively tolerated by cats and unwanted effects are unusual. Nevertheless, contact your vet instantly in the event you discover something uncommon.
There might be unwanted effects from vitamin Okay injections, together with:
- Ache, swelling, or bleeding on the injection website
- Allergic response or anaphylaxis (very uncommon)
Observe: vitamin Okay must be injected underneath the pores and skin (subcutaneously) and never into the vein (intravenously) because of the danger of anaphylaxis, or into the muscle (intramuscular) because of the danger of hematoma.
Overdose and Emergencies
An overdose of vitamin Okay in cats can destroy their crimson blood cells. Excessive doses may also trigger bleeding issues, regardless of being given to forestall it. So, in case you are nervous your cat might have taken too many vitamin Okay tablets it is best to contact your veterinarian for recommendation instantly.
Potential Drug Interactions of Vitamin Okay for Cats
A number of medicines might work together with vitamin Okay, and so must be used with warning:
- Thyroid medicine
- Aspirin
- Chloramphenicol, metronidazole, or erythyromycin (antibiotics)
- Allopurinol (used to deal with leishmania or bladder stones)
- Diazoxide (used to handle blood glucose ranges)
- Itraconazole (antifungal)
- Cimetidine (used to deal with or forestall abdomen ulcers)
- Propranolol (used to deal with coronary heart situations and hypertension)
- Warfarin-type medicine
All varieties of medicine have the potential to work together, even non-prescription medicine. So, make sure to inform your veterinarian about something you’re giving your cat, even in the event you don’t assume it’s essential. This contains natural treatments, dietary supplements, nutritional vitamins, or over-the-counter remedies.
Mineral oils similar to liquid paraffin might cut back vitamin Okay absorption out of your cat’s intestine. So, it is best to cease utilizing this whereas your cat is handled with vitamin Okay to make sure it might probably work successfully.
The right way to Retailer Vitamin Okay
Vitamin Okay tablets must be stored at room temperature in a light-resistant container with the lid shut. Compounded medicines must be saved in accordance with the label.
As at all times, maintain any medicine out of attain and sight of kids and pets.
Continuously Requested Questions
Is vitamin Okay secure for cats?
There is no such thing as a licensed vitamin Okay medicine for cats. This implies there isn’t a veterinary formulation that has been examined on and designed particularly for cats. Nevertheless, human vitamin Okay is used continuously to deal with cats with vitamin Okay deficiency, with only a few unwanted effects. Importantly, it is best to solely give your cat vitamin Okay underneath the course of your veterinarian.
What ought to I do if I miss a dose of vitamin Okay?
For those who miss a dose of vitamin Okay in your cat it is best to give it as quickly as attainable. Nevertheless, whether it is almost time for his or her scheduled dose, you can provide it on the regular time. You must NOT give a double dose to make up for the missed dose. Be certain that to not go over the overall dose your cat has been prescribed for twenty-four hours. Contact your veterinarian in case you are uncertain what to do.
How lengthy does it take for vitamin Okay to work in cats?
Vitamin Okay remedy normally begins to work inside 24-48 hours. In case your cat is displaying indicators of bleeding your veterinarian might start their therapy with injections so the drug is absorbed as rapidly as attainable. Nevertheless, it must be continued for a number of weeks till your cat has no signs of bleeding issues and blood checks present their blood is clotting usually.
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British Small Animal Veterinary Affiliation. (2017). CLIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET.
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Vitamin Okay deficiency. (n.d.). Cornell College Faculty of Veterinary Drugs.
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Vitamin Okay remedy. (n.d.). Cornell College Faculty of Veterinary Drugs.
