Poisonings and Intoxications (Small Animal)

Question 1

When is emesis indicated in cats and dogs? What drugs are used?

Answer 1

When toxic compound is ingested within 1-3 hours

Can use:
- Both: Hydrogen Peroxide 3% orally - may irriate gastric mucosa
- Dogs: Apomorphine
- Cats: Xylazine

Question 2

When is inducing emesis contraindicted?

Answer 2

1. Seizing or weak patients
2. Megaeosphagus pateinets
3. Animals have ingested corrosice substances, a hydrocarbon, or a petroleum

Question 3

How is a gastric lavage preformed?

Answer 3

1. Under general anesthesia to lavage, or was out the stomach of potential toxins
2. Patient is in lateral recumbency, ET tube placed
3. Orogastric tube is measured from nose tip to last rib and the lubricated tube is advanced orally to that point
4. 5-10 mL/kg warm tap water is pushed into the tube & then the fluid is allowed to drain from the tube;
   
   • This is repeated until it runs clear
   • Most of the time a “double” stomach tube is placed so that as fluid is going in, fluid is coming out the other tube
5. Activated charcoal is administered after the stomach has been emptied
6. The tube should be crimped and then removed

Question 4

Where is Xylitol found? What does it cause in cats/dogs? How do you treat it?

Answer 4

Xylitol is found in many sugarless gums and candies, and sometimes in baked goods

May cause hypoglycemia

Treatment involves supportive care with IV fluids and treatment and monitoring of hypoglycemia

Question 5

Why are onions toxic to small animals?

Answer 5

May cause Heinz Body Anemia from disulfides

Can cause pale gums, vomiting/diarrhea, and intravascular hemolysis

Question 6

Why is to toxic agent in grapes/rasins?
Symtoms?
Treatment?

Answer 6

Idopathic toxic principle but are thought to contain oxalates that can damage the kidneys

Question 7

What are the 2 toxic agents in Chocolate? What chocolate is most toxic?

Answer 7

Methylxanthine Compounds
1. Theobromine
2. Caffine

Dark/Baker’s chocolate contains the most Theobromine (1 ounce contains 393mg vs 44-58mg in milk chocolate)

Question 8

What is the toxic dose of chocolate? What are the signs?

Answer 8

LD50 theobromine and caffeine is 100-200mg/kg. Some pets can show signs if ingest 20mg/kg

Signs:
1. Tachycardia
2. CNS excitability/tremoring
3. Excitement
4. If severe enough can result in death within 6-24 hrs

Question 9

What are the 4 treatment options for chocolate toxicity?

Answer 9

1. Induction of emesis
2. Fluid therapy
3. Activated charcoal
4. Diazepam may be used to control the tremoring

Question 10

What are the 4 signs and 3 treatment options for rasin/grape toxicity?

Answer 10

Symptoms:
1. Vomiting/Diarrhea
2. Lethargy
3. Decreased appetite
4. Can cause renal failure in some patients

Treatment:
1, Within 4 hours induce vomiting, multiple doses of activated charcoal are indicated
2. Fluid diuresis for minimum of 48-72 hours
3. Hemodialysis (kidney dialysis) may be indicated

Question 11

Why is Acetaminphen toxic to dogs and cats? What’s another name for it? What does it do?

Answer 11

Tylenol causes methemoglobin formation

Dogs: May be primarily toxic to the liver at higher doses

Cats: Causes Methemoglobinuria + may cause the urine to appear brown, the gums to appear brown or cyanotic, + may cause peripheral edema

Question 12

What is the toxic dose of Acetaminophen (Tylenol)? What is the treatment?

Answer 12

Toxic dose:
Dogs 150 mg/kg
Cats 50 mg/kg

Treatment:
1. Emesis induction and gastric lavage when indicated
2. IV fluid diuresis
3. N-acetylcysteine (antidote) administration

Question 13

Where is Pyrethrin most commonly found? What species does it effect?

Answer 13

Over-the-counter topical flea treatment
Usually seen in cats/kittens

Question 14

What effects does Pyrethrin have on cats? How do you treat it?

Answer 14

Causes tremoring which may lead to increased temp

Treatment:
1. Supportive by bathing the animal to wash off the toxin
2. IV fluid support
3. Often Methocarbamol to control tremoring; Phenobarbital may be used in severe cases
4. Sometimes the mouth needs to be rinsed or wiped out if the animal has been inadvertently ingesting
the toxin by grooming the skin and fur where the medication was applied

Question 15

What is Metaldehyde commonly found in? What does effects does it have in small animals? How do you treat it?

Answer 15

Commonly found in snail bait

Effects: Anxiety, ataxia, hyperesthesia, muscle twitching or seizures, tachycardia, dilated pupils, hypersalivation, and vomiting or diarrhea; pets often present seizing and have a high temperature; vomit often contains green pellets which are usually snail bait

Treatment
- Gastric lavage
- Control of seizures
- Monitoring
- Fluid support
- Activated charcoal

Question 16

What does Rodentcide contain?

Answer 16

Anticoagulant - Vitamin K antagonist

Question 17

What effects does Rodenticide have on small aninmals? how do you treat it?

Answer 17

Clinical Signs: May not be evident for 4-5 days after ingestion
- Spontaneous bleeding
- Pets may bleed from anywhere including gums, wounds, from the eyes, etc.
- ACT will become prolonged first, and then PT and PTT will become elevated (2-4 times normal)

Treatment:
- Emesis induction or gastric lavage if recently ingested
- Activated charcoal should be administered
- Vitamin K1 (oral or subcutaneous) should be given daily for 21 days
- In pets with clinical disease, blood transfusions are often necessary along with continued supportive care, + monitoring until the coagulation factors return to normal

Question 18

What is the common name for Ethylene Glycol

Answer 18

Antifreeze

Question 19

What does Ethylene Glycol cause in small animals? What is the antidote?

Answer 19

Causes acute renal failure + metabolic acidosis
- Hemodialysis is often indicated

Antidote is 4-methylpyrazole (4MP) and may be given up to 36 hours post-ingestion

Question 20

What are 3 poisonous plants?

Answer 20

1. Oleander
2. Lilies
3. Sago Palm

Question 21

What does Oleander contain that is toxic to small animals? What effects does it have?

Answer 21

Contains cardiac glycosides

Effects:
- Possible GI upset, may be cardiotoxic

Question 22

What does Lilies contain that is toxic to small animals? What effects does it have?

Answer 22

Toxic to cats

• Causes acute renal failure within 18-72 hours

Treatment:
- If known ingestion and less than 4 hours, induce vomiting
- Administer multiple doses of activated charcoal,
- IV fluid diuresis a minimum of 48-72 hours
- Hemodialysis is often indicated

Question 23

What effects Sago Palm have on small animals? What is the treatment (5 things)?

Answer 23

May cause weakness, seizures, and acute liver failure

Treatment:
1. Supportive care
2. Emesis induction
3. Activated charcoal
4. IV fluid diuresis
5 Liver protectants