Intro Stuff

Question 1

Who is the father of toxicology ?

Answer 1

Paracelsus

Question 2

What does “xenobiotic” mean ?

Answer 2

Foreign substance

Question 3

What is an antidote

Answer 3

Any substance that prevents/ relieves the effects of a toxin

• no antidote works on all toxins, some may say that activated charcoal is the “universal antidote”
• have the potential to be harmful

Question 4

The dose response curve

Answer 4

NOAEL= no observable adverse effects level 
LOAEL= lowest observable effects level

Question 5

List 3 factors that influence toxicity

Answer 5

1) exposure (route, dose, duration, etc)
2) subject (breed, age, species, etc)
3) environment (temperature)

Question 6

What are cats deficient in

Answer 6

Glucuronidation

Question 7

What are dogs deficient in

Answer 7

Acetylation

Question 8

What are pigs deficient in

Answer 8

Sulfation

Question 9

________ is more toxic to pregnant animals

Answer 9

Parathion

Question 10

Exposure classifications

Answer 10

1) acute : single dose or within 24 hrs
2) sub-acute/ sub-chronic : from 7 to 90 days
3) chronic : 6m to life

Question 11

How do toxicants cause toxicity ?

Answer 11

• cellular damage : can result in free radical damage, inhibition of energy production, disruption of enzyme function
• organ system dysfunction (insecticides and rodenticides) : not associate with specific cellular injury but lethal to intact organism

Question 12

What are the top 5 mistakes that we make when treating toxicosis ?

Answer 12

1) treat poison not patient
2) induce emesis at wrong time or when its not appropriate
3) not getting complete history from client
4) tunnel vision
5) not known treatment contraindications

Question 13

Who are candidates for intubation ? For ventilation

Answer 13

• Unconscious, paralyzed, severe resp distressed patients

- hypoventilation, metabolic acidosis, hypoxia (treat with 40% O2)

Question 14

Drugs for hyperactivity

Answer 14

• diazepam
• phenobarbital
• methocarbamol

Question 15

Drugs for depression

Answer 15

• analeptics

- doxapram

Question 16

Drugs for tachycardia and arrhythmias

Answer 16

• correct electrolytes / acid-base balance
• lidocane
• propranolol

Question 17

Drugs for hypertension

Answer 17

• nitroprusside

- hydralazine

Question 18

When do we use dobutamine

Answer 18

To aid fluid therapy

Question 19

What are the 4 major themes when taking a history

Answer 19

• past medical history
• diet history
• environment history
• current clinical situation history

Question 20

What are the 2 main types of decontamination?

Answer 20

1) emesis
2) activated charcoal

– lastly : cathartics

Question 21

Emesis

Answer 21

• Contraindications: chronic exposure, its been too long since ingestion, acid solutions, household products, animal has compromised stomach, not recommended for that specific species …
• rule of thumb: toxic dose in ingested, no vomiting has occurred, activated charcoal is not an option
• little evidence that it improves clinical outcome

Question 22

Activated charcoal

Answer 22

• the earlier you give it, the more effective it is
• about 2-8g/kg as slurry of 1g/5ml H2O, repeat dose every 4-6hrs
• can be done alone or with gastric lavage
• contraindication: unpleasant for animal, does NOT bind to all toxins (oils, acids, alkalis, glycols, metals, petroleum, distillates, detergents), dehydrated animals, abstracted airway, chronic exposures
• really good for plant toxicoses
• rule of thumb: substance is known and it binds to it, ingestion was recent, animal can tolerate it, there is no need to oral meds immediately

Question 23

Cathartics

Answer 23

• decreases GI transit time, increases toxin movement, can be used with charcoal complex, decreases possibility of toxin absorption
• mineral oil, salines (milk of magnesia, MgSO)

Question 24

When do we use dilution instead of emesis ? what do we do for dermal exposures ?

Answer 24

• For corrosive, strong acids or bases; can dilute milk and water (may enhance absorption) or eggs
• bathe in liquid dish soap and rinse well

Question 25

What is lipid infusion

Answer 25

Still new, off label use of IV lipids have been reported to be effective and safe. Toxin adheres to lipid and is then removed

Question 26

Vit. K is an antidote for ______.

Answer 26

Rodenticides