Poisons Flashcards
What should you ask on the phone to a suspected poisoning?
What, when, dose?
Bodyweight
Who should you call for information about poisons?
Veterinary poisons information service - VPIS
What should the owner bring?
Product label/photo
Sample of product
What are the 5 main categories of the patient triage after poisoning?
Respiratory CV Neuro Urogenital Other eg. abortion, dermatological
What are the 3 general principles of managing intoxication?
Remove/eliminate toxin
Reduce ongoing absorption
Dilution of toxin
What are the 4 main methods of removing/eliminating toxin?
Induce emesis
Gastric lavage
Cutaneous decontamination
Haemodialysis
When should you do emesis?
Within 2-3 hours after oral ingestion of a non corrosive agent
When is emesis contraindicated?
If corrosive/irritant
Pre-existing aspiration risk
If petroleum distillate
What are the two emetic agents? How are they administered?
Apomorphine - SC
Xylazine - IM
When should gastric lavage be used?
Within an hour
Induction of emesis unsuccessful
How is gastric lavage performed?
Under anaesthesia
Intubated
Lateral recumbency
Use gravity to lavage with warmed water/activated charcoal
How do you perform cutaneous decontamination?
Clip affected regions
Warm water
Mild shampoo/detergent
What are the two methods of reducing ongoing obsorption?
Enteric adsorbents
Intralipid
What is an example of an enteric adsorbent?
Activated charcoal
How are intralipids useful?
They bind to substances that have already been absorbed into the blood stream to prevent them from reaching the brain
What supportive management can be given for intoxication?
Specific antidote Analgesia Maintain hydration and nutrition Manage nausea - antiemetics Tremors - muscle relaxants
What can be given for hepatotoxins?
Antioxidant support
Lactulose
What substances should you not worry about?
Contraceptive pill
Silica gel
Catnip
What questions can you ask in a large animal suspected poisoning?
Onset/duration
Location of livestock
Nutrition/feeding
Any potential access
What common toxins cause sudden death?
Yew
Lead
Water dropwort
Copper
What common toxins cause neuro signs?
Ragwort
Lead
Ergot
What common toxins cause GI signs - diarrhoea?
Oak - acorns
Ragwort
Rhododendron
What common toxins cause resp signs?
Fog fever
What is fog fever?
L-tryptophan - change in diet
What common toxins cause CV signs?
Bracken
What common toxins cause dermatological signs?
Photosensitisation
Molybdenum
St johns wart
What common toxins cause urine discolouration/haematuria?
Bracken
What does water dropwort look like?
Celery with white flowers
When does copper poisoning usually occur?
Overdose when treating for deficiency/supplementation
What does ragwort look like?
Celery with yellow flowers
What is ergot?
Fungus growing on late sumer long grass grain
How is fog fever treated?
Diuretics - frusemide
What is photosensitisation?
Circulating chemicals absorb sunlight and damage skin
What can cause photosensitisation?
Primary from direct action of ingested toxin eg. st johns wort
Secondary from damaged liver not breaking down toxic metabolites
What does high molybdenum cause?
Copper deficiency signs - is a copper antagonist
Green diarrhoea
Poor coat
Poor fertility
Ill thrift
What are the clinical sign of bracken poisoning?
Haemorrhage
Bladder/upper alimentary tract neoplasia
Haematuria
CV signs
What are other causes of sudden death in cattle that should be considered?
Anthrax
Hypovolaemia
What main symptom does rhododendron cause?
Projectile vomiting
What does st johns wort cause?
Photosensitisation
What does oak cause/
Colic/severe indigestion
What does yew cause?
Sudden death
What does ragwort cause?
Neurological signs via liver pathology
GI signs
What does water dropwort cause?
Sudden death
What can cause severe hind limb lameness progressing to distal limb necrosis?
Ergot
What mineral is high on the Somerset levels causing ill thrift and scour?
Molybdenum
