Colloidal Silver For Cats: Is It Safe?

As a pet parent, you know that occasionally, your cat will require medical attention. With minor injuries or infections, treating your furry friend at home may be in your favor. Trips outside the house can be stressful for some felines, and visits to the vet can be costly. 

Cat owners are often looking for ways to help their pets at home. The use of dietary supplements can be beneficial for some pets. One supplement that cat owners often ask about is colloidal silver.

Colloidal silver is a dietary supplement that historically has been used to support the immune system during times of stress and promote quick healing time. Read this article to learn about the efficacy of treating cats with colloidal silver.

History Of Silver

Silver has a rich history throughout civilization. It is part of the natural world and can be found in trace amounts in various vegetables, grains, and mushrooms.

Silver was used for preserving food, water, and wine throughout ancient Mediterranean civilizations. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus reported that Persian kings drank water exclusively stored and transported in silver vessels. Hippocrates, the “father of modern medicine,” praised the healing properties of silver in 400 B.C., citing its ability to repair tissue and heal wounds.

Have you heard the phrase, “Born with a silver spoon in their mouth”? Silver spoons were given to babies as christening presents in the Middle Ages. These children were said to benefit from silver’s purifying properties.

Silver was used as an antimicrobial treatment before the discovery of antibiotic drugs. By the 1800s, silver nitrate was used to treat wounds and prevent infections in the eyes of newborns.

NASA has used silver ions to purify water and prevent bacterial contamination in the water supply. Today, you can find colloidal silver supplements on the shelves of your local health food store.

What Is Colloidal Silver?

Colloidal silver is a refined silver that is stabilized in a liquid, gel, or cream. Colloidal silver is sold as a dietary supplement to support immune function or as a topical antimicrobial formula that fights bacteria and fungus. Think of colloidal silver as a natural antibiotic for you and your pet.

Colloidal silver uses nanoclusters, meaning the particles of silver (called colloids) are at a nano-size, small enough to go through the skin. It is essential to buy quality, pure colloidal silver if you wish to use colloidal silver on your pet safely. Look for a formula made using 99.999% pure silver. The strength or concentration is measured in parts per million (ppm). Concentrations vary from 10 ppm to 20,000 ppm.

Keep in mind that the effectiveness of colloidal silver relies heavily on particle size. The smaller the particle size, the easier it is for the body to absorb and eliminate. Larger particle sizes mean you need to administer higher dosages of colloidal silver, thereby increasing the potential risk of toxicity.

Check with your vet to determine what concentration of colloidal silver is best for your pet. We recommend a lower concentration of 10 ppm with a proven nano-particle size to ensure a powerful and safe formula.

Is Colloidal Silver Safe For Cats?

Silver is safe for your furry friend so long as you buy a quality product and follow the manufacturer’s usage directions or instructions from a health care practitioner. Choose a colloidal silver that is specific to cats. If you are unsure if using colloidal silver is right for your pet, consult your veterinarian.

There have been concerns about the safety of colloidal silver for people and pets, specifically with prolonged contact or ingestion of silver. Argyria is a condition caused by exposure to silver salts, where the skin takes on a grayish-blue color. This benign skin condition does not go away once ingestion has stopped.

Argyria can occur at taking extremely high dosages of unrefined silver. You don’t need to worry about this side effect if you choose a high-quality colloidal silver at a low ppm.

What Conditions Can Colloidal Silver Treat?

Colloidal silver is a natural anti-inflammatory that has been touted for its ability to treat various health concerns. This supplement has been praised as a potent antimicrobial and may be used to prevent or treat infections. You may wish to use colloidal silver for any of the following feline conditions:

• Eye infection
• Ear infection
• Skin infection
• Stomach infection
• Urinary tract infection
• Cuts and wounds
• Burns
• Parasites
• Fungal and yeast infections
• Dermatitis
• Feline herpes

If your cat is showing signs of serious health concerns, contact your veterinarian.

How Do I Give My Cat Colloidal Silver?

Home is safe and free of stressors that could aggravate your pet’s condition. Provide your pet with a secure, relaxing place like a raised bed to rest and recover. A warm, sunlit window is always a favorite location for your furry friend.

Choose a topical or oral colloidal silver based on your pet’s needs. Before applying a colloidal silver solution, clean the area where the product will be used. Using a cotton ball, apply the colloidal silver generously to promote natural healing. Apply one drop of colloidal silver in each eye twice a day for eye infections.

For oral colloidal silver, try offering it to your cat in a small bowl alongside their water. This supplement should not have a distinct taste or smell, so your cat may be inclined to lap it up.

You may need to give your cat the colloidal silver via an oral syringe. To do this, hold your cat in your lap. Lightly grasp your cat’s upper jaw with one hand and insert your thumb and finger in the jaw gap, just behind the teeth. Most cats will relax their mouths slightly at this pressure, allowing you to dispense the liquid between your cat’s front teeth. Tilt your cat’s head as you dispense the liquid to ensure the supplement is ingested.

For feisty felines, you may need to utilize the burrito method, where you swaddle your cat snugly in a towel before giving them the liquid.

After treatment, provide your cat with comfortable, clean bedding. If your cat requires the training and expertise of a skilled professional, contact your veterinarian.

How Much Colloidal Silver Should I Give My Cat?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established an Oral Silver Reference Dose (RfD) of 350 micrograms of silver per day. Keep this in mind when purchasing a colloidal silver supplement for your pet. Higher concentrations or ppm of colloidal silver will limit the amount of colloidal silver your pet can safely take.

The easiest way to dose colloidal silver is by purchasing a pet-specific formula. These products will instruct a specific dose based on weight and type of care: acute, maintenance, and long-term. 

You can also consult with a naturopathic physician or veterinarian for dosing. 

Alternatives To Colloidal Silver

There are many medicinal herbs that you may already have that you can use to support the immunity of your furry friend.

Echinacea, or purple coneflower, is a perennial herb native to the prairies of North America that can be used medicinally. You might even have it in your garden right now! Internally, echinacea can treat abscesses, allergies, and urinary tract infections. Applied topically, echinacea may speed tissue repair. It is excellent in salves and washes to treat cuts, burns, infected wounds, and bites.

Make your own infusion using fresh or dried herbs or purchase prepared echinacea. Herbal capsules created for human consumption may be given to cats but in smaller doses. Give your cat half a capsule instead of a whole pill. 

Manuka honey is a powerful healer and an effective way of treating minor wounds or burns on the skin. Manuka honey suppresses bacteria grown on the skin and prevents infection.

Look for high-quality manuka honey made in New Zealand. Apply manuka honey to your pet’s skin. This product soothes the skin and may speed up the healing process. Talk with your veterinarian to ensure manuka honey is safe for your pet.

Calendula is another herb that can be used for external treatment. This herb acts as an antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory. Applying calendula topically may also soothe the skin and promote healing.

Calendula is available as a tincture or cream. You can also use fresh or dried herbs to make a wash or salve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Isn’t Silver A Toxic Heavy Metal?

No, silver is not considered a heavy metal, which generally means any metal that is considered toxic to humans regardless of dosage. Silver is listed as a transition metal or noble metal on the periodic table, in the same category as gold, copper, zinc, and iron. Silver is not toxic when taken in the appropriate dosage and form.

Will Colloidal Silver Harm My Cat’s Gut Probiotics?

Peer-reviewed literature shows silver does not disturb the microbiome. Giving your cat silver will not kill beneficial probiotics.

Should I Dilute Colloidal Silver Before Giving It To My Cat?

Dilution of colloidal silver is unnecessary since a quality product will contain a safe, low concentration of silver.

What Color Is Colloidal Silver?

Pure colloids should always be a clear or pale hue. A darker color indicates that the product uses large particles that are less bioavailable and may contain impurities or too much silver.

Final Thoughts

Colloidal silver is a great product to keep in your first aid kit for your cat. Topically, colloidal silver is used to calm skin inflammation, fight minor skin infections, and promote skin healing. You can also treat your cat with oral nanosilver to promote natural healing throughout the body and support the immune system. If your cat would benefit from at-home treatment, consider adding colloidal silver to your arsenal.