Tiger Lilies...

justicat

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Are extremely toxic, even deadly to cats. In case you didn't know, which I did not.

My Stella is currently at the ER vet clinic due to potential exposure. My boyfriend found a lily pod on the floor (I had them high in a vase on a dresser) around lunchtime yesterday. it wasn't torn or chewed when I fished it out of the trash bin last night, but was still in a room where she frequents. I rushed her to the ER around 8:30 last night.

She's been receiving fluids, blood work, chemistry profiling...the whole nine yards. No sign of illness, no vomiting, diarrhea, still has her appetite and was very alert when I went to see her this morning before work.

The vet recommended they keep her for 48 hours as a precaution. My only issue is...money. It's $930 for 12 hours. My boyfriend was kind enough to put the charge on his credit card, because I do not have that kind of money. $930 x 4...easy to do the math there. I spoke with the vet this morning over the phone and she told me I had enough credit to keep Stella there until the morning and we would not be billed anything beyond that.

So that would mean she would be there for 36 hours.

Opinions are needed. If after 36 hours and her her blood and kidney levels are fine, and she's still acting like her perky self, could I get by with taking her home and monitoring her myself? Maybe bringing her to another vet if I notice anything?
 
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justicat

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Anyone? : / I have no idea what course I should take.
 

donutte

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I think someone else had a similar issue, but the kitty didn't stay for observation. She was not sure if the kitty actually ate it or not though.

I'm not sure how long it normally takes for symptoms of kidney failure to show after eating lilies, but I imagine it would be pretty quick. If it's not showing within 48 hours, it should be ok to bring her home and then do some followup blood work after that. Going by what I read it sounds like one of the first symptoms they would show is vomiting, which you said she hasn't done.

Obviously you want to get your vet's take on that. And I would absolutely do follow-up blood work on her (just to be safe - you don't want to mess with potential acute kidney failure). And if anything is out of the sort with her, I'd take her in right away. It's one of those "time is of the essence" things if she does show symptoms.

And FYI - ALL lilies are toxic to cats. I also would never, under ANY circumstances, have lilies in the house. Cats are very good at getting into places they shouldn't get to, especially if something outside the norm is there.
 
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cinqchats

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I've read that the most important window for treatment is the first 18 hours, as lily poisoning will cause acute kidney failure. 

Lilium and Hemerocallis species are all considered poisonous to cats- Easter lilies, daylilies, Asiatic lilies, Trumpet lilies, blackberry lilies...etc. 
 

zed xyzed

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I once thought that Midi got into so Lillies, so rushed him to emergency where he was given intervenous fluids. He stayed 3 days for observations, $1700 later he came home and the vet said he didn't think he ingested any but wasn't sure. I glad I took him there is no way I would take any chances.

Have a frank discussion with the vet, he needs to be aware of your financial situation and should be able to give you some guidance / probabilities after one day. Usually, the first day is the most expensive because they run a lot of tests. The following days most of the time they are observing and giving fluids. Find out what they are doing on day 2,3,4 and ask them to explain why they are charging that much.  You could call another vet to see what they would charge. 

I hope your kitty is ok, there is a good chance that Stella didn't ingest any. Let us know how things work out. 

PS The rates seem insanely high 
 
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justicat

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Thanks to everyone for your responses! Here's an update regarding my girl.

I decided to take her home yesterday morning after about 38 hours of diuresis. I also received a full report of all of her blood work, urine tests, and behavior that was taken over the 38 hours she was there. Everything was as perfect and as average as you would expect a healthy cat to be. Nobody at the vet was too enthused about me taking her out early, but...

I figured if she was poisoned by the lily, SOMETHING would show up, symptom wise. Something in her blood work, urine tests, behavior...something. Especially after 38 hours of being at the vet.

Right now, she's playing with her favorite toy and dragging it around. Her appetite is as usual, her bathroom habits seem to be regular, she's playful, cheerful, and purring. With that being said, would y'all suggest taking her back for more blood work as a follow up?
 

zed xyzed

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That is wonderful news I am so happy that she is well.


As to additional tests if you can afford it and need a piece of mind it might be a good idea. If it was me I would feel pretty confident that something would have showed up in 38 hrs.
 

margd

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That is wonderful news I am so happy that she is well.


As to additional tests if you can afford it and need a piece of mind it might be a good idea. If it was me I would feel pretty confident that something would have showed up in 38 hrs.
 

ghiblithecat

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Wow, a similar thing happened to me three days ago... but my vet handled it very differently! Just like you, I wasn't sure if my cat even ingested or touched the flower. However, just to be safe I immediately took him to the emergency vet only two hours after the flowers were in the house. They did not have me stay or  fluids or anything because it had only been a little while after the potential exposure and it would not show up in the blood work. THIS is what they had me do: 

A physical examination and several blood tests in order to check his normal kidney function and blood. This way, if he did start to show symptoms, they could take his blood again and compare it to when his blood was normal, then intervene with fluids, and all of the other things your cat received. They had me watch him very very carefully for the next few days for ANY slight symptom (which would constitute another vet visit, and a second blood test to see if his kidneys were acting differently). The emergency vet visit was around $200 but completely worth it. He has been completely fine, playing, eating, and pooping normal. I'll take him in the minute I see any abnormality this next week (if I do). Multiple vets have told me that it is extremely unlikely that my cat would ingest it and show absolutely no symptoms that are obvious after a day or two, so I think I'm in the clear. Still, we are going in for a blood test tomorrow to compare it to the first one.

My question for you is, did they do a blood test to see if there was normal kidney function and your kitty turned out fine? Those rates are extremely high... And isn't it like 100% that it would show up in their blood after a day or two? 

If your kitty seems to be playing and fine (like my own), I would say she is in the clear. If a cat has severe kidney damage, you would know. 
 
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handsome kitty

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I also rushed my kitten to the vet after he started throwing up a few hours after I had pulled him away from biting a lily leaf.  He had gotten into something else though that was effecting his liver. The vet said it happened about a week before and asked if he could have gotten his paws on Tylenol.   He is the luckiest cat around!  My vet did warn me that even licking the lily pollen off his fur could poison him.

He spent 24 hours at the vet with an IV to flush the toxins out of his liver, 2 rounds of blood work, a shot and the bill ran about $1,200 including meds for home.  It was a little over a year ago and he has had no adverse effects.
 

psychomama

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We just moved into a new house with a screened porch. Psycho is an indoor only cat but the neighbor has Easter lilies in her yard about 30 ft away from the screened porch. My question is can the pollen travel to the screen porch? I googled and found that lilies do not produce air borne pollen but wondered if anyone knew about it on this site. I have found so much good information here.
I have taken him for leash walks at the other house and we can stay away from the lilies here if need be. Thank you for any information .
 

LTS3

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We just moved into a new house with a screened porch. Psycho is an indoor only cat but the neighbor has Easter lilies in her yard about 30 ft away from the screened porch. My question is can the pollen travel to the screen porch? I googled and found that lilies do not produce air borne pollen but wondered if anyone knew about it on this site. I have found so much good information here.
I have taken him for leash walks at the other house and we can stay away from the lilies here if need be. Thank you for any information .
Your cat wouold have to eat a toxic plant like a lily in for illness  / poisoning to occur. Breathing in pollen from a toxic plant will not have any effect.
 
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