Toxic to cats · Medications

Is Calcium Channel Blockers toxic to cats?

Extreme severity No safe amount — No amount is considered safe.

Yes. Even a small amount can be life-threatening — treat any exposure as an emergency and contact a vet immediately.

Symptoms to watch for

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness
  • Collapse
  • Slowed heart rate
  • Lethargy
  • Hypotension
  • Heart failure
  • Acute kidney failure

How vets treat it

Immediate decontamination, heart and blood pressure monitoring, aggressive IV fluids, and potentially calcium, glucagon, high-dose insulin therapy, or intravenous lipid emulsion.

Why it's dangerous

These medications have a narrow margin of safety and cause toxicity by severely slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure, potentially leading to heart and kidney failure.

Toxic compound: Calcium channel blockers

Good to know

These drugs have a narrow margin of safety; even a small amount can result in severe, life-threatening poisoning.

Sources

This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.

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