Himalayan salt lamps have become a widely beloved home decoration in recent years – however, experts are now issuing a stern warning for anyone who has purchased one of these iconic pieces. It turns out that Himalayan salt lamps can actually be hazardous to pets! Despite the many benefits such as ionizing your space, improving air quality, aiding restful sleep, and even potentially balancing serotonin levels – if you care deeply about your pet’s well-being it might be best to pass on this accessory.
Maddie Smith was startled to find that her beloved cat, Ruby, had assumed a peculiar position when she awoke one morning after buying and running a Himalayan salt lamp in her home. This behavior of holding its head up high was something that the feline did before this particular day – causing Maddie to acknowledge something strange about the recent purchase.
“We initially thought this was just because she was so cold,” Smith posted on Facebook, “so we got her nice and toasty and left for work as usual.”
To Maddie’s dismay, Ruby was having a hidden neurological issue. Maddie brought her beloved pet to the vet right away as soon as she noticed that Ruby had gotten even worse after coming home from work. She never imagined Himalayan salt lamps would be harmful for pets and was amazed when she heard it at the veterinarian’s office.
“The vets were extremely concerned for her and could see she definitely had neurological problems because she simply could not walk properly, could not hear or see, couldn’t even eat or drink properly because she couldn’t function [with] her tongue,” Smith said. “Her basic senses and abilities were GONE in 12 hours. She was so helpless.”
Maddie was taken aback when the vet revealed that her beloved feline, Ruby, had abnormally high levels of sodium chloride in her blood. There were no alterations to Ruby’s diet during her stay with Maddie; however, one factor did alter – recently purchasing a Himalayan salt lamp for their house.
With one careless lick, the cat had swallowed an immense amount of salt from the lamp, resulting in her brain swelling and leading to severe neurological difficulties.
Thankfully, Ruby’s vet took rapid action to rectify her situation. With a potassium flush administered through intravenous fluids, the cat was soon back on the road to recovery. After spending time in the animal hospital for observation and treatment, she eventually returned home with healthy levels restored.
“Ruby’s case simply highlights … that for dogs and cats, sometimes the most innocuous sources of sodium chloride can cause issues if the particular animal is drawn to it,” First Vets posted on Facebook. “Another good example is when dogs ingest homemade playdough in large enough quantities for a toxic dose of sodium chloride to be reached for the particular dog’s size.”
