Palytoxin - links to pet illness

[samnaz]

Are there any instances in which pet illness has been linked to palytoxin?

Long story short - my cat is sick. Our vet has ruled out all suspects (cancer/disease/infection) and insists, I mean INSISTS, his illness is a reaction to a toxin (for example, anti-freeze). The only cleaning products I own/use is White Vinegar or Clorox wipes and neither explain his sickness.

The only other toxin I can possibly think of is palytoxin.

I realize this probably is and sounds totally ridiculous - But I've been wracking my brain for days trying to figure out what's wrong with my cat, and at this point, this is all I can think of.

Can I rule out palytoxin?

If you have read or heard or experienced anything PLEASE speak up. I don't care if the evidence is nothing more than anecdotal. I am taking everything in to consideration at this point.

Thanks in advance.

 

[James M]

Are you fragging any palys/zoas ?

 

[samnaz]

Are you fragging any palys/zoas ?

Short answer is no. (I avoid them for this reason alone lol).

I have removed some dead corals in the past few months, a mix of LPS and montis for the most part.

I threw out a old frag rack that began to rust and was overgrown with some bits of corals, “Heineken palys” being one of them. That was at least 2 months ago.

This seems like a long shot. I’m just looking for someone to point me in the direction wherein palytoxin has effected a cat/dog.

 

[James M]

If your aren’t fragging or boil live rock with zoas on it, I wouldn’t be concerned about paly toxins.

 

[samnaz]

If your aren’t fragging or boil live rock with zoas on it, I would be concerned about paly toxins.

ok. so let's say a paly ended up in the trash (fully intact OR injured) and wasn't immediately taken outside of the house. cause for concern?

 

[James M]

ok. so let's say a paly ended up in the trash (fully intact OR injured) and wasn't immediately taken outside of the house. cause for concern?

I meant I wouldn’t be concerned about it. Idk if they release anything When drying up

 

[samnaz]

I meant I wouldn’t be concerned about it. Idk if they release anything When drying up

I want to know if it is safe to assume Palytoxin poses no threat to felines when the palytoxin is alive or in the process of dying. Or if there is any evidence to prove otherwise.

 

[mattzang]

https://cen.acs.org/articles/96/i2/Palytoxin-danger-hidden-tropical-aquariums.html

i guess it's possible. i've avoided cleaning off some ugly hitchhiker zoas on a live rock i have due to this

i hope your little ball of fuzz gets better. maybe mention this to the vet and they can at least rule it out?

 

[DMG Reef]

I had a similar experience with 2 cats who were wasting away slowly. The vet couldn't find anything concrete to treat so he gave them cortisone shots. That did nothing to help them. They both passed away. This happened before I set up my reef btw.

I later stumbled upon an article about tea tree oil being highly toxic to cats. I had been using the oil on my face, then petting the kitties without even thinking about it being on my fingers. I had absolutely no idea that it was fatal to cats. You might check to see if any of your cosmetics or toiletries contain tea tree oil.

Good luck. I hope you figure this out.

 

[that Reef Guy]

I want to know if it is safe to assume Palytoxin poses no threat to felines when the palytoxin is alive or in the process of dying. Or if there is any evidence to prove otherwise.

Unless the Cat Ate It.

Your Cat is fine.

If something would have happened it would have already happened.

 

[fish farmer]

How old is your cat?

Is it a particular breed that is prone to certain illnesses?

What are they symptoms of the sickness? Throwing up? Lethargic? Picky eating?

Sometimes cats can get issues from the foods they eat, even if it is perfectly fine food, they just get sensitive or have different needs when they are older.

 

[Beefyreefy]

Palytoxin would be toxic to felines as well. I don't know of any case reports specifically involving cats but multiple dogs have been sickened by palytoxin. In almost all cases of pets falling ill to palytoxin, the entire household fell ill as well. Just from your story I suspect paly toxin is unlikely the culprit. How long has the cat been sick and what are its symptom's?

 

[mattzang]

just to throw out a random idea: a few years back my cat would get really sick all of a sudden, seemingly out of the blue. and it took several months to figure this out, but the flea medicine i was giving her was doing it. i had changed brands or something, didn't think anything of it, but finally put it together she'd get really sick for about a week after using the medicine on her. switched back to the old stuff and she hasn't been sick since.

so could be something like that? like @fish farmer mentioned maybe a new food or something?

 

[andrewkw]

I have 4 cats and many many different palys and zoas including some super toxic grandis, protopalys ect. Never have I been even the slightest bit concerned including fragging. My cats don't eat the frags - they do like to play with plugs though.

Eating or boiling them is the only way they can be exposed.

 

[Eggs]

Eating or boiling them is the only way they can be exposed.

That’s not the case, don’t be complacent, there are other forms of exposure that can result in being infected with palytoxin. An open wound on your hands/arms will do a number on you very quick. Handling in general will expose you.

 

[Fourthwind]

I have 4 cats and many many different palys and zoas including some super toxic grandis, protopalys ect. Never have I been even the slightest bit concerned including fragging. My cats don't eat the frags - they do like to play with plugs though.

Eating or boiling them is the only way they can be exposed.

Unfortunately you are very wrong in this assumption. If the toxin is in the water, it can aerosolize through any kind of gas exchange. It takes literally microns in the air to make someone sick. Most however pass off the symptoms as a cold. I can tell you this from personal experience with this stuff. Nearly killed my dogs. Wife hospitalized. Rest of us sick. Do not underestimate this stuff. BTW in our case it was a new tank with used dry rock. Toxin was on rock. Microbubbles from protein skimmer released the toxin into the air. No rock boiled. No coral in the tank. Previous owner pulled the rock with live paly and let them die. Dieing paly released toxin on to rock. I will never use anything used again without bleaching.

 

[andrewkw]

That’s not the case, don’t be complacent, there are other forms of exposure that can result in being infected with palytoxin. An open wound on your hands/arms will do a number on you very quick. Handling in general will expose you.

My cats don’t touch any corals. They only play with new unused plugs.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Cats are inquisitive by nature and do get into things, but given the opportunities you have listed this would be closer to the bottom as opposed to other everyday items that are also toxic to cats.
Small list
1). Chocolate, usually associated with dogs cause most cats dont want it but is very deadly to cats. Where a large dog would throw up from a candy bar a cat can die from a nestle morsel.

2). Lilies of any kind, asian lilies being the most toxic(to just about everything honey made from lilies is toxic to humans)
3.) things like garlic or onions, not like the others this is a slow process over several weeks and cats develop anemia.
4).grapes, raisins, carobs, etc lead to kidney failure.

There are more going off memory. Also some items we dont commonly associate as chemicals, but personal beauty supplies can contain a myriad of components natural or artificial that to a cats limited taste bud range could appear appealing, and toxic.

Synthetic or natural ambergris(most likely synthetic these days) added as a balancing agent to perfume being one that might draw a carnivore to try it.

 

[Fourthwind]

I want to know if it is safe to assume Palytoxin poses no threat to felines when the palytoxin is alive or in the process of dying. Or if there is any evidence to prove otherwise.

It is the second most deadly toxin in the world. Yes it can affect anything it comes in contact or breaths in when airborne. No vet is going to be able.to test for it unless they send blood samples to a university that is familiar with it. Dang near killed my dogs and family.

 

[JoshH]

Are there any instances in which pet illness has been linked to palytoxin?

Long story short - my cat is sick. Our vet has ruled out all suspects (cancer/disease/infection) and insists, I mean INSISTS, his illness is a reaction to a toxin (for example, anti-freeze). The only cleaning products I own/use is White Vinegar or Clorox wipes and neither explain his sickness.

The only other toxin I can possibly think of is palytoxin.

I realize this probably is and sounds totally ridiculous - But I've been wracking my brain for days trying to figure out what's wrong with my cat, and at this point, this is all I can think of.

Can I rule out palytoxin?

If you have read or heard or experienced anything PLEASE speak up. I don't care if the evidence is nothing more than anecdotal. I am taking everything in to consideration at this point.

Thanks in advance.

Does your cat enjoy putting his/her face near the top of your tank atall?