If discovered at home, and is only one tablet, induce vomiting and give water or milk, then take to the veterinarians. Acid-base imbalance should also be corrected witha slow infusion of sodium bicarbonate, but must be carefully monitored and adjusted if pulmonary edema develops. If this is still not enough, or as in a severe acute case of poisoning, peritoneal dialysis with an osmotic alkaline fluid may be needed. Treatment for the gastrointestinal mucosa would include histamine receptor antagonists to control the inflammation. It is important to note that acetaminophen is not an antiinflammatory agent in cats or dogs.
Cats are extremely sensitive to acetaminophen toxicity.
One regular strength tablet may be toxic to a cat, and a second one ingested 24 hours later may be lethal. Cats gums are a dirty brown color, difficulty breathing, blood in urine, jauntice and facial swelling would be noticable signs at home. Clinical signs are cyanosis, dyspnea, facial and paw edema, hypothermia, and vomiting. Less common signs include coma, generalized weakness, and death. Normally, methemoglobin is reduced to hemoglobin by glutathione, but in the presences of a toxic amount of acetaminophen, glutathione synthesis is reduced, and insufficient free glutathione is available to reduce methemoglobin and bind the reactive metabolite, consequently, the tissues are starved for oxygen.