A devastated mother has issued a heartfelt warning to fellow pet owners after her beloved cat, Lilly, tragically passed away within hours of unknowingly consuming rat poison. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers faced by pets.
Sarah Spencer, residing in Meanwood, Rochdale, initially dismissed the symptoms when she observed what appeared to be a nosebleed in her 10-year-old cat, Lilly. At first, Sarah thought her pet had endured a minor mishap, as Lilly continued to behave “normally.” However, the following day, Sarah found Lilly in a distressing condition, hunched up in their garden, with severe bleeding from her nose and rear end.
Concerned for her pet’s well-being, Sarah rushed Lilly to the veterinarian, only to receive the devastating news that Lilly had ingested a potent anticoagulant rat poison, known to cause fatal hemorrhages. Due to the severity of her injuries, the heartbreaking decision was made to euthanize her.
Reflecting on the events leading up to Lilly’s passing, Sarah recalled, “The evening before we lost her, we saw some drops of blood on the floor. At first, I thought my son was bleeding and checked him for where it had come from but he was fine. Then we noticed Lilly was sitting near him and she had the tiniest bit of blood coming from one nostril. I was worried that she hurt herself, but the bleeding stopped and she was happy and eating and acting as usual, so I didn’t think much more about it.”
The next morning, as Sarah took her children to the library and a sweet shop, Lilly played outside. However, upon returning home, Sarah sensed that something was amiss. She described the distressing scene, saying, “I was about to make lunch, but when I looked out of the kitchen window, I saw Lilly hunched up in the backyard with blood dripping from her bottom. I ran outside to get her and saw it was coming from her nostrils too. It was a lot of blood, and it was shocking to see.”
Sarah’s children, Rosalie (9) and Theo (4), were deeply affected by the incident, and she did her best to shield them from the gruesome sight while urgently seeking assistance from a local veterinarian.
Sarah continued, “Her usual vet had no vet on-site, so I rang around other local vets to try and get some help. It was terrifying, but we managed to get her to the Bury ARMAC emergency vet. The wait to get seen was frustrating and difficult as Lilly bled out onto a blanket, but we did get seen, and the vet was absolutely wonderful.”
The veterinarian swiftly recognized that Lilly’s symptoms, coupled with her history as an avid hunter, pointed to possible poisoning. Despite the vet’s best efforts, Lilly had lost a substantial amount of blood, and her condition was critical. A blood transfusion was considered but offered little hope due to the advanced stage of her illness. With heavy hearts, Sarah had to bid farewell to her cherished companion.
Lilly held a special place in Sarah’s family, providing solace during difficult times. Sarah remarked, “She meant everything to our family. I lost my best friend to cancer last year, and I spent so many times crying into Lilly’s fur while she cuddled me. My daughter can’t remember life without her, and my son has never lived without her! She was special to my husband too.”
This tragic incident serves as a poignant reminder to pet owners to remain vigilant and take precautions to protect their beloved animals from potential hazards, including substances like rat poison that can have devastating consequences.
