Has your cat eaten some garlic bread? Are you worried the garlic bread will make your cat sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it’s scary when our cats eat something they shouldn’t. It’s sometimes hard to know what to do.
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In this article, we’ve put together some information about garlic bread and whether or not it can make your cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is Garlic Bread?
Garlic bread is a type of bread that’s been topped with garlic, olive oil, or butter. It may also contain other herbs and spices. The bread is then toasted or baked until it turns a light brown and is crunchy. This is a favorite treat or side dish for people around the world.
Cats do occasionally enjoy eating bread. While researching this article, we found information that this is a common thing with cats! They seem to love bread. It’s thought they may be lacking some nutrients in their diet and eat bread to get this nutrient. However, it’s also true that some cats just seem to love eating bread because they simply like it.
It looks like eating bread once in a while doesn’t seem to hurt cats unless the bread contains a topping that’s toxic to cats.
But can garlic bread make your cat sick? Can cats eat garlic?
Garlic Bread & Cats
So far, we know the bread is OK for your cat to eat. The problem, however, is the garlic the bread contains. Garlic is toxic to cats; it’s a very dangerous toxin for cats.
Garlic is a member of the Allium family, which includes garlic, onions, leeks, and more. All plants in this family are toxic to cats (as well as dogs).
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Garlic Poisoning in Cats
You may notice these symptoms if your cat has eaten garlic bread:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Difficulty breathing
- Increased respiratory rate
- Increased heart rate
- Pale gums
- Collapse
If your cat is showing any of these symptoms, then call the vet immediately. This is a medical emergency.
Treatment for Garlic Toxicity in Cats
At the vet’s, they will perform a complete physical exam of your cat. This may also include lab work.
Treatment will depend on when your cat ate the garlic bread. If the garlic bread was recently eaten, the vet might choose to induce vomiting or use gastric lavage to remove the garlic from her stomach. Another option is to use activated charcoal, which will bind with the toxins and keep them from being absorbed by your cat’s digestive tract.
Your fur baby may also require an IV for fluids and to administer other medications your cat may need. In rare cases, your cat may also require a blood transfusion.
The good news is that in mild or moderate garlic toxicity, your cat should make a full recovery. She may need to spend some time in the hospital to make sure she’s stable before she comes home.
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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