Introduction

• Cause: ingestion of fat and oil.
• Signs: gastrointestinal signs.
• Diagnosis: history and clinical signs, including oily vomitus or diarrhea.
• Treatment: symptomatic.
• Prognosis: good.
• Essential oils, eg tea tree oil (melaleuca oil) may have different clinical signs and are not covered here (Khanet al, 2014; Villaret al, 1994).

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Fats Fat and oils are composed of triglycerides.
• Generally, oils are liquid at room temperature, and fats are solid; palm oil is semi-solid at room temperature and often yellow in color (due to the presence of carotene).
• Readily available as food stuffs including butter, vegetable oil (eg sunflower oil, olive oil, corn oil), suet, lard and margarine.
• Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil used in processed foods, toiletries (soaps, shampoos), as a biofuel and for cooking (in some countries).
• Inhalation of heated fats or oils could result in exposure to acrolein, which is formed when fats and oils are heated to high temperatures Smoke inhalation. It is a strong irritant of mucous membranes and highly reactive.

Specific

• Obesity Obesity.
• Dogs with a history of pancreatitis Pancreatitis: chronic may be at risk of recurrence.

Pathophysiology

• Laxative effect.

Timecourse

• Typically within a few hours of ingestion. Solid oils may cause signs of gastrointestinal tract obstruction without prodromal signs.

Epidemiology

• A case cluster may be seen if palm oil is washed up on a beach.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Outcomes