Maddie Smith from New Zealand shared a cautionary tale on Facebook about her beloved cat, Ruby, who was poisoned after licking a Himalayan salt lamp. Maddie aims to warn other pet owners about the dangers these lamps pose and urges them to keep them out of reach of their pets.
Maddie recounted how Ruby started walking strangely one Wednesday morning. Initially, they thought Ruby was just cold and made her comfortable before heading to work. However, when they returned home, Ruby’s condition had worsened significantly, prompting an urgent visit to the vet.
“The vets were extremely concerned for her and could see she definitely had neurological problems. She couldn’t walk properly, hear, or see, and even struggled to eat or drink because she couldn’t control her tongue,” Maddie wrote. “Her basic senses and abilities were gone in 12 hours. She was so helpless.”
Test results revealed a shocking diagnosis: severe salt poisoning, which had caused Ruby’s brain to swell. The source was identified as a regular salt lamp in their living room, which Ruby had licked.
Ruby’s survival was deemed a miracle since salt poisoning can be deadly for animals. The taste of salt can be addictive, leading pets to continue licking the lamps.
Veterinary experts confirm that while these lamps are generally safe, they become dangerous if pets consume too much salt. For cats, the safe daily intake of salt is around 42mg. Anything above this amount can cause poisoning.
To ensure your pets’ safety, keep Himalayan salt lamps out of their reach if you choose to have them in your home.
