Bleach

From Felipedia

Bleach is one of the more common toxins affected cats due to its popularity as an all-purpose disinfectant in catteries, households and clinics.

Household laundry bleaches most commonly contain sodium hypochlorite at concentrations of 3% to 6%. Industrial-strength bleaches and swimming pool supplies may contain 50% sodium hypochlorite. other common ingredients in (nonchlorine or colorfast) bleaches include trichloroisocyanuric acid and sodium perborate.

Sodium hypochlorite is corrosive and usually has local effects on the mucous membranes and esophageal tissues. Animals rarely ingest enough bleach to cause systemic signs. Further, ingestion of a bleach solution usually re sults in vomiting, limiting the quantity of toxic principal absorbed. The hypochlorite bleaches are alkaline, and tissues exposed to it will suffer alkali burns. Trichloroisocyanuric acid is corrosive but of low toxicity. Sodium perborate degrades to hydrogen peroxide (which may cause gastritis and emesis) and borate (which may cause systemic signs of boric acid poisoning,.

Clinical signs

Most pets have a "bleach" odor and may show bleaching of the hair. Ptyalism, emesis, and rebound tenderness of the cranial side of the abdomen may occur. Hernaternesis and pharyngeal edema may be seen.

Treatment

Although induction of emesis within 3 hours of ingestion has been recommended, it is not usually advisable due to small quantities ingestion and rapid transmucosal absorption. Although most patients will vomit within minutes after ingestion of common bleaches, vomiting should not be the goal of the veterinarian presented with a case of bleach ingestion. Current advice for ingestion of bleaches includes administering large volumes of water or milk.

Past recommendations included administering milk of magnesia, egg whites, or powdered milk slurry. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) causes carbon dioxide formation and gastric distension as well as formation of hypochlorous acid and should not be given.