7 - Pet Poison Helpline

Question 1

Partnership with clinics

Answer 1

• Works closely as needed on each individual case
• Case report emailed for records
• Provide client education materials (clings, brochures, newsletter content, website info)
• Provide free RACE approved CE for veterinary professionals and support staff

Question 2

What are the top dog toxins in Canada?

Answer 2

• Chocolate: 10.7%
• Grapes and raisins: 5.3%
• Anticoagulant rodenticides
• Ibuprofen
• Xylitol
• Acetaminophen

Question 3

What are the top cat toxins in Canada?

Answer 3

• Lilies: 7.7%
• Chocolate: 3.6%
• Garlic
• Amphetamine combos
• Ibuprofen
• Onions/chives/leaks/shallots
• *cats are more resilient to long-acting anticoagulants

Question 4

Patient assessment

Answer 4

• Is the patient stable?
  o Vitals, hydration, neurological status
• Any current/past medical concerns?
  o Pancreatitis: decontaminate to decrease that risk even if not a toxic exposure
• Species and breed differences
• Age
  o Decreased hepatic function until 12 weeks old
• Weight

Question 5

Toxicity assessment

Answer 5

• What was the toxin?
  o Rodenticides: colour is NOT regulated
• What was the route of exposure?
• What was the dose or amount exposed to?
  o **DOSE makes the poison
• Time since exposure?
• Where did the exposure occur?

Question 6

What are the GI decontamination methods?

Answer 6

• Emesis
• Gastric lavage
• Activated charcoal
• Whole body irrigation
• Cathartics
• Endoscopy and surgical removal

Question 7

What are some safe emesis up to 6 hrs after ingestion?

Answer 7

• Grapes/raisins
• Chocolate
• Gum
• Large plant ingestion
• Massive ingestion
• Drugs that decrease gastric emptying (opioids, salicylates)

Question 8

Decontamination methods: emesis in dogs

Answer 8

• Apomorphine
• Ropinirole (Clevor)
• Hydrogen peroxide
  o *1tsp/10lbs, 3tbsp/30lbs

Question 9

Decontamination methods: emesis in cats

Answer 9

• Xylazine
• Dexmedetomidine
• CONS to both
  o Efficacy: as low as 50%
  o Excessive sedation
  o CV collapse
• NOT hydrogen peroxide or apomorphine

Question 10

What are some decontamination methods that are NOT recommended?

Answer 10

• Salt
• Liquid dish soap
• Syrup of Ipecac
• Digital stimulation

Question 11

What are the pros of activated charcoal?

Answer 11

• Readily available
• Relatively inexpensive
• Suspected to bind to most toxicants
• May decrease absorption by 25-30% w/delayed administration
• Can administer with food
• *adsorptive capacity: function of binding SA (REVERSIBLE PROCESS)

Question 12

What are the cons of activated charcoal?

Answer 12

• Window for administration: won’t be helpful if already absorbed
• Hypernatremia
• Difficult to administer
• Messy
• Vomiting after administration
• Diarrhea/changes to stool
• Binds to therapeutic medications
• Unknown benefit

Question 13

What will NOT be significantly adsorbed by activated charcoal?

Answer 13

• Cleaning agents
• Liquor
• Automotive sector

Question 14

Activated charcoal dose

Answer 14

• 1g/kg

Question 15

Cathartics roles

Answer 15

• Osmotic: draws water into GIT
• Accelerates speed of drug transit through GIT
• Decrease time for toxin absorption
• Decreases time for desorption of toxin from activated charcoal
• *ex. sorbitol

Question 16

Gastric lavage

Answer 16

• Species that do NOT vomit
• Potentially life threatening
• Contraindications: hydrocarbon ingestions, corrosives, recent surgery
• *very labor intensive

Question 17

Whole bowl irrigation

Answer 17

• Iron, enteric coated rugs, or extended-release formulations
• *uncommon: more safe options
• Give polyethylene glycol in a NE or NG tube

Question 18

Endoscopy and surgical removal

Answer 18

• NON-leaking batteries or coins (*zinc in 1982)
• Patches
• Bottles/plastic
• Other metals
• Expansile glue=forms rock hard mass in stomach