Cat Illness: Toxemia

Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine defines toxemia as a condition in which toxins are found in the blood, causing symptoms of disease. While toxemia is considered a disease, cat owners should keep in mind that toxemia can also be considered a symptom of other diseases. Owners of cats that are exhibiting symptoms of toxemia should seek veterinary care as soon as possible.

  1. Causes

    • Feline toxemia occurs whenever toxins enter the blood or when toxins build up. There are potentially thousands of different causes. Some cats may suffer from toxemia during or after pregnancy, usually due to an infection of the uterus during or following birth. Toxemia can occur because of various bacterial infections that can affect the function of the cat's kidney, umbilical cord or other organs. Tissue death, feline leukemia, toxic substances that the cat comes into contact with on a regular basis, and even medications the cat may be on can cause toxemia.

    Symptoms

    • When there are low levels of toxins present in the blood, the cat may be asymptomatic, meaning it shows no signs of disease or illness. Some cats may present symptoms that are not necessarily disease-specific. These can include diarrhea, issues with the heart and, in some cases, kidney failure, which can be considered a cause of feline toxemia or can occur because of feline toxemia.

    Clinical Symptoms

    • Cats with low levels of toxins in the blood often display only clinical symptoms―symptoms noticed only during testing or examination at a veterinarian's office. When a blood sample is examined by the veterinarian, there may be physical abnormalities of various blood cells, including unusual or bizarre shapes or cellular giantism. There may also be elevated levels of basophilic precipitates, also known as Döhle bodies, which indicate toxicity of the blood.

    Diagnosis

    • Since toxemia may be a disease or a symptom of a disease, there are potentially hundreds of tests that may be necessary to determine if it is a symptom or a disease itself. Affected cats may require blood tests, such as a full blood panel, to check for toxin levels. These tests can also help identify what toxin is present in the blood. A urinalysis is also beneficial in testing for kidney and organ function. If a specific type of bacterial infection is suspected, the veterinarian may also choose to run a bacterial culture for confirmation.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for feline toxemia will vary based on the underlying cause. If toxemia is occurring due to another disease, treatment of the disease may clear up toxemia accordingly. If medications are causing toxemia, the cat may need to be weaned off the medication or switched to a different medication. Since toxemia may be caused by bacterial infection, various antibiotics may be used, depending on the type of bacteria present. An antibiotic and steroid combination medication, such as tetracycline, may also be used, as it is beneficial against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.