Module 14.2

Question 1

Index of poison suspicion

Answer 1

Rapid clinical sign onset in healthy animal
Multiple animals
Unexpected items in environment

Question 2

History of poisonings

Answer 2

Take full hx, but consider source and keep an open mind
Create a timeline-prior health, location, other animal status, signs

Question 3

Environmental clues

Answer 3

Meds in house?
Feed/water locations

Question 4

Live animal exam and sample collection

Answer 4

Assess/stabilize
PE
Symptomatic/supportive care
Diagnostics: hematology, biochem (serum), imaging, urinalysis, toxicology tests, etc.
Collect: blood, urine, V+ (extremely helpful), feces, hair (not usually), foreign materials

Question 5

Examination and sample collection of deceased animal

Answer 5

Postmortem exam
Histopath
Imaging
Urine sediment exam
Vitreous chem
Toxicology tests
Collect: stomach contents, blood-heart, feces, urine, kidney, liver, brain, vitreous, fat, skin/SQ tissue-topical

Question 6

Guideline of sample collection

Answer 6

Peracute (<2hrs): stomach contents, V+, blood (possible)
Acute (>2hrs): blood (maybe transient), urine, feces, vitreous (deceased animals)
Feces/urine good bc excretion of metabolites can take days
Toxicants rapidly cleared from blood
Always collect a set of samples rather than 1 sample