Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet drug that people keep in the medicine cabinet and that cats handle badly. The feline problem is not unusual sensitivity of the target but very slow elimination, so repeated or even single doses of a human tablet can build up to toxic levels. Gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding are the main dangers.
Key facts
Aspirin toxicity at a glance- Species and system: cat; multisystemic (GI tract, blood, kidney, acid-base).
- Cause: cats lack glucuronyl transferase and clear salicylate slowly; the elimination half-life of salicylic acid approaches 40 hours in cats versus about 7.5 hours in dogs (MSD).
- Main hazards: vomiting and gastrointestinal ulceration, irreversible platelet inhibition, and in severe cases acid-base disturbance and kidney injury.
- Antidote: none. Treatment is decontamination and supportive care.
- Therapeutic use: low-dose aspirin is still used in cats for thromboprophylaxis, but is no longer the preferred antiplatelet.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Practical points for the exam and for practice
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 self-test questions and 4 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
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