A cat in Thailand nearly lost its life after its owner unknowingly gave it paracetamol meant for humans after noticing that it looked unwell.
According to reports, the incident happened in Lopburi province, where the owner gave the cat one adult paracetamol pill based on advice from an elder.
Shortly after consuming the medication, the cat developed severe facial swelling and showed signs of poisoning.
Thankfully, the cat was rushed to the vet in time and managed to survive after receiving treatment.
The attending veterinarian later explained that paracetamol is toxic to both cats and dogs, especially cats, as their bodies are unable to properly break down the drug into harmless substances like humans can.
Photos shared by the animal hospital showed the cat with a severely swollen face while undergoing treatment, with the images quickly making rounds online.
According to the vet, the owner became emotional and teary-eyed after learning how serious the cat’s condition was. Fortunately, the cat has since recovered well and has already been discharged.
The animal hospital later shared the case on Facebook as a warning to pet owners not to give human medication to animals without proper veterinary advice.
It explained that symptoms of paracetamol poisoning in pets can include vomiting, weakness, swelling of the face and paws, difficulty breathing, dark brown blood, and even liver failure. In severe cases, consuming high doses can quickly turn fatal.
Although some netizens joked that the cat’s swollen face looked “cute”, the vet stressed that the condition was actually dangerous and should never be treated as a joke.
The hospital also reminded pet owners to seek professional medical treatment if their pets fall sick instead of attempting to medicate them on their own, as even common medicines that are safe for humans can be extremely harmful to animals.
