If you have any interest in home decorating and are also interested in your health, you may have heard of Himalayan salt lamps. They are a fad, but they are also practical. They offer some decorative lighting and there are some people who feel that the salt being diffused by the lamp is good for you. You will find them in many locations, from people’s living rooms to your local spa.
Many people talk about the health benefits of these lamps and there seem to be quite a few of them to discuss. The claims tend to be anywhere from believable to outrageous. Some people say that they help you to fall asleep faster and others claim that they clean the air in your home can help with your mood. Regardless of whether they do those things or not, they are a popular item that has found their way into many homes.
That doesn’t mean, however, that they are healthy for everyone.
If you happen to own a cat, you may want to be very careful about having one of these Himalayan salt lamps in your home. Believe it or not, these lamps are killing cats.
Veterinarians are now warning cat owners to remove the Himalayan salt lamps from their home right away. The reason is that cats are attracted to the salt and lick it regularly.
Of course, getting some salt in your diet isn’t really a bad thing, regardless of whether you are a human or a cat. The problem is that cats don’t regulate the amount of salt they are getting. They lick enough that they get sodium poisoning which leads to nausea, vomiting, seizures and can even kill them.
Maddie Smith is a cat owner from New Zealand who has a story to tell. She talked about her experience on the Rose Avenue Vet Hospital Facebook page. She said:
“We woke up on Wednesday morning to our darling Ruby walking really strangely and had her head in an odd position as she walked. We initially thought this was just because she was so cold so we got her nice and toasty and left for work as usual,” Maddie wrote.
When Ruby started to go downhill, Maddie took her to the veterinarian right away.
They ran some tests and found that Ruby was suffering from sodium poisoning. It occurred because she was licking the lamp in the home and the cat’s brain was swelling. Many neurological problems resulted and she couldn’t eat, walk or even see.
“Her basic senses and abilities GONE in 12 hours. She was so helpless,” said Maddie.
Ruby was put on an IV to help bring her blood levels back to normal. They also thanked Maddie for taking quick action. If it would’ve been for the IV treatment, Ruby would have probably died.
Eventually, Ruby was able to make a full recovery. Maddie and the veterinarians thought that it was good to warn people about the dangers of Himalayan salt lamps.
“Salt poisoning is EXTREMELY deadly to animals and she is basically a miracle to still be here now. These salt lamps are addictive to animals, and if they get a taste it becomes just like potato chips are to us! So please please keep these out of reach from your fur babies.”
Maddie is hoping that other pet owners will benefit from the experience and won’t have to go through a similar difficulty. Himalayan salt lamps may be trendy but they can also be a risk if you have pets around.
Source: Shareably
