SA toxicology

Question 1

Animal ingested toxin on way to vet.

What are you going to do?

Answer 1

1. Stabilise pATIENT ABC
2. HISTORY
3. Decrease absorbed dose: emesis (Apomorphine in dog, xylazine/ dexmedetomidine cat), gastric lavage or adsorbents
4. Supportive care (system, temp, nutritional

Question 2

Emesis- what if patients hasn’t eaten in past 2 hrs

Answer 2

feed small moist meal then induce vomiting to inc chance adequate emeisi (apomorphine dog, xylazine/ dexmedetomidien cat)

Question 3

Emesis- time window?

Answer 3

• within 3 hrs ingestion
• up to 6 hrs aspirin
• 12hrs choco

Question 4

What are contraindications to emesis?

Answer 4

• no gag reflex
• comatose/ stuporous
• seizure
• already been vomiting
• sedation or loss of consciousness
• ingestion something corrosive = further mucosa damage

Question 5

What is apomorphine and when used?

Answer 5

it is a synthetic opiate used to cause emesis in DOG

Question 6

when would you use Gastric lavage and how/ equipment

Answer 6

• cannot induce vomiting
• MUST be cuffed ET
• lower head and neck relative to thorax
• use orogastric tube
• warm water
• repeat until lavage fluid is clear
• can add activated charcoal to lavage, elave 10-15 mins
• never XS pressure stomach as can ice risk aspiration
• retain sample of fluid to see what toxin is

Question 7

When would you use activated charcoal absorbent?

Answer 7

used to absorb
many pharmaceutical products, pesticides, and plant toxins. However, it is not indicated for ingestion of caustic (alkaline) chemicals, petroleum distillates or small molecules such as alcohols, some mineral acids, or ionised metals or minerals (sodium, lithium).

Question 8

Role of cathartics

Answer 8

Enhance GI elimination of toxins by promoting GI movement therefore Reduce the time a toxin is exposed to the gastrointestinal tract