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Poisoning: overview
Introduction
- Cause: ingestion of, or exposure to, toxic substance.
- Signs: vary according to toxin ingested but often neurological, gastrointestinal or respiratory.
- Diagnosis: definitive diagnosis rarely made.
- Treatment: usually symptomatic, occasionally antidote available.
- Prognosis: depends on toxin - varies from hopeless to good.
Presenting signs
- Depends on type of poison:
Age predisposition
- Pre-existing renal, cardiac or liver disease may increase susceptibility to some substances.
- Young animals are often more commonly poisoned due to inexperience and playful nature.
Breed/Species predisposition
- Some breeds are more susceptible to some poisons, eg collies and related breeds to avermectins Ivermectin toxicity Multi-drug resistance gene (MDR1): overview , loperamide and vincristine; Korean and Japanese breeds to onions and other Allium species Allium species poisoning.
Pathogenesis
Pathophysiology
- Most cases of poisoning present with a major clinical sign.
- See specific toxicity for details.
Gastrointestinal signs
- Blue green algae Blue-green algae poisoning.
- Borax Borax poisoning.
- Lead Lead toxicity.
- Methiocarb Methiocarb toxicity.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, eg ibuprofen Ibuprofen toxicity , naproxen Naproxen poisoning , diclofenac Diclofenac.
- Phenoxy herbicides Phenoxy herbicide poisoning.
- Fungi (mushrooms/toadstools) Mushroom poisoning.
Renal damage
- Ethylene glycol Ethylene glycol poisoning.
- Cholecalciferol Vitamin D poisoning (cholecalciferol).
- Ibuprofen Ibuprofen toxicity.
- Sultanas, grapes, raisins, currants Raisin poisoning.
Hepatic damage
- Paracetamol Paracetamol poisoning.
- Blue green algae.
- Fungi (mushrooms/toadstools).
- Aflatoxins Mycotoxicoses.
- Cycads Cycad palms.
- Xylitol Xylitol toxicity.
- Phenolics.
Respiratory signs
- Coumarins Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning.
- Carbon monoxide Smoke inhalation.
- Paracetamol Paracetamol poisoning.
- Paraquat Paraquat poisoning (bipiridyls).
- Acrolein.
Neurological signs
- Excitement/seizures:
- Tremorgenic mycotoxins Mycotoxicoses.
- Organophosphates Organophosphorus poisoning.
- Carbamates Carbamate poisoning.
- Lead Lead toxicity.
- Methylxanthines Theobromine / chocolate poisoning.
- Blue-green algae Blue-green algae poisoning.
- Metaldehyde Metaldehyde poisoning.
- Strychnine Strychnine toxicity.
- Salbutamol Salbutamol toxicity.
- Bromethalin Bromethalin poisoning.
- Methiocarb Methiocarb toxicity.
- Plastic explosives Plastic explosives poisoning.
- Cannabis Cannabis poisoning.
- Amphetamines and ecstasy.
- 5-fluorouracil.
- Alphachloralose Alphachloralose poisoning.
- Baclofen Baclofen poisoning.
- Avermectins, eg ivermectin, moxidectin.
- Pyrethrins Pyrethrins and pyrethroids Pyrethrum , eg permethrin Permethrin.
- Fungi (mushrooms/toadstools).
- Depression:
- Ivermectin Ivermectin toxicity.
- Alphachloralose Alphachloralose poisoning.
- Baclofen Baclofen poisoning.
- Cannabis.
- Nicotine Plant poisoning: nicotine-like toxins.
- Amitraz Amitraz.
Hematological effects
- Allium species (onion, garlic).
- Zinc Zinc toxicity.
- Anticoagulant rodenticides Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning.
- Paracetamol.
- Benzimidazoles (mebendazole, fenbendazole, albendazole, flubendazole, oxbendazole).
Miscellaneous signs
- Cardiac toxins, amitraz, laburnum Laburnum anagyroides or cardiac glycoside containing plants Poisonous plants: overview Plant poisoning: solanine and related glycoalkaloids.
- Toad poisoning Toad poisoning.
- Snake bite Adder bite poisoning.
- Xylitol or sulphonylureas.
Timecourse
- Usually acute onset, but occasionally need chronic exposure to toxin for signs to manifest.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Referred papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
Other sources of information
- Petersen M E, Talcott P A (2012) Small Animal Toxicology. 3rd edn. St Louis, Missouri: Saunders.
- Poppenga R H, Gwaltney-Brant S (2011) Small Animal Toxicology Essentials. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Osweiler G D, Hoyda L R, Brutlag A G, Lee J A (2010) Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell.
Organisation(s)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control, telephone (888) 426-4435.
- Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS); www.vpisglobal.com, telephone + 44 (0) 2073 055 055.