Quiz 1: Principles, Diagnosis, Treatment, Neurotoxicants Flashcards
Paracelsus
“Father of Toxicology”
Swiss physician that said “all substances are poisons”
Toxicology is concerned with
Identification, treatment, and assessing risks of poisons
Definition of Toxicant
Compound that causes toxicity
May be natural or man-made
Xenobiotic = foreign substance
Definition of Antidote
Substance that prevents/relieves effects of a toxicant
No antidote works on all toxins (not even activated charcoal)
NOAEL
“No observed adverse effect level” on dose-response curve
LOAEL
“Lowest observable adverse effect level” on a dose-response curve
Classifications of chemical interactions in toxicity
Additive
Antagonistic
Synergism
Factors influencing toxicity
Factors related to exposure
Factors related to the subject
Factors related to the environment
Types of exposure classifications
Acute
Sub-acute/subchronic
Chronic
Acute exposure
A single exposure or multiple exposures in 24 hours
Sub-acute/subchronic exposure
Exposure over 7 to 90 days
Chronic exposure
Protracted exposure (6 months - lifetime)
Most important veterinary toxicants are absorbed by what routes?
Oral and dermal
What usually detoxifies a compound and increases its elimination?
Metabolism
When metabolism increases the toxicity of a compound
Bioactivation
Mechanism of Toxicity (4 steps)
- Delivery from site of exposure to target
- Reaction of the ultimate toxicant with the target molecule
- Cellular dysfunction and resultant toxicities
- Repair or disrepair
How do toxicants cause toxicity?
Cellular damage
Organ system dysfunction
Most common toxicants that cause death
Insecticides
Rodenticides
Ethylene Glycol
When treating a patient for a toxicosis, what do you do first?
Evaluate for immediate life-threatening problems
How to prevent aspiration of vomitus in an unconscious patient?
Keep head lower than body
A patients may need assisted ventilation if:
Hypoventilation, hypercapnia
Metabolic acidosis (venous pH 7.35)
Hypoxia, treat with 40% oxygen
How to treat CNS hyperactivity (seizures)
Diazepam
Phenobarbital
Methocarbamol
How to treat CNS depression
Analeptics
Doxapram
How to treat tachycardia and arrhythmias
Lidocaine
Propranolol
How to treat hypertension
Nitroprusside
Hydralazine
How to increase cardiac contractility
Dobutamine
Priority in animals with severe clinical signs
- Assess hypo/hyperthermia
2. Pull blood for laboratory profile and diagnostic testing (3cc EDTA tube and 2 serum tubes)
4 major themes of a History
- Health history
- Current clinical history
- Environment
- Diet
Two most common methods of decontamination
Emesis
Activated charcoal
Contraindications of emesis in decontamination
- > 30 minutes since exposure
- Chronic exposure
- Ingestion of caustic materials
- Recent GI surgery
Induce emesis if:
- Toxic dose of substance was ingested
- No vomiting has yet occurred
- Activated charcoal is not an option
Contraindications of using activated charcoal
- If it will not bind the toxin (inorganic compounds, oils, gasoline, ethylene glycol, cyanide, etc.)
- If airways are obstructed
- If patient has altered state of consciousness
- Chronic exposure
- If you suspect GI perforation
Activated charcoal is most useful for what type of toxins?
Toxic plants
Pesticides
Herbicides
Give charcoal if:
- Substance is known to be absorbed by it
- Ingestion was very recent/undergoes enterohepatic circulation/is sustained release
- The patient can tolerate it
- There is no immediate need to administer oral meds
Effect of cathartics
Decrease GI transit time
Increase movement of toxins/charcoal-toxin complex
Decrease absorption of the toxin
Example of a cathartic
Mineral Oil
What to do for corrosive toxins that have been ingested?
Use dilution instead of emesis
Milk water or eggs
How to treat dermal toxicant exposure?
Bathe in liquid dish soap
Lipid infusion
Relatively new treatment for toxicant ingestion
Off label-use of IV fluids
Emetic agent for dog, pigs
Apomorphine
Emetic agent for cats
Xylazine
Good agent for at-home emesis induction
Salt water
Hydrogen peroxide
Treatment for sustained-release toxicants
Gastric lavage or whole bowel irrigation
Common antidotes to know
Vitamin K for rodenticide toxicities
Digoxin for plant toxicities
Analytic testing
Testing for toxicants
Not one test that will screen for all toxicants
Can be costly
Ancillary support includes
Managing any hepatic or renal injury
Maintain body temperature (hyperthermia- cold baths, ice; hypothermia- blankets, circulating warm water pads, NO HEAT LAMPS)
Ensure adequate urine output
Prevent irritation of skin/membranes with demulcents, milk, sucralfate
How to prevent future toxicant exposures
Change pasture, feed, water, etc.
Remove baits, pesticides, etc.
Bathe or flush cutaneous or ocular exposures
Educate clients
Types of Neurotoxicants
Pesticides Pharmaceuticals Mycotoxins Ammoniated feed toxicosis Strychnine Salt