Toxic plants

Question 1

What are the clinical signs of a cow with wild cherry toxicity?

Answer 1

• exercise intolerance
• down
• seizures
• death

Question 2

what is the toxin responsible for wild cherry toxicity?

Answer 2

cyanide

Question 3

what is the effect of cyanide in cases of wild cherry toxicity?

Answer 3

makes oxygen irreversibly bound to hemoglobin

(bright, cherry colored blood)

Question 4

What color is the blood of animals with wild cherry toxicity?

Answer 4

bright red

Question 5

what is the onset of toxicity for wild cherries?

Answer 5

15-20 minutes

Question 6

how much wild cherry does a ruminant have to eat for toxicity to occur?

Answer 6

1-5 lbs in a 1200 lb cow.

Question 7

T/F: all wild cherry leaves are toxic

Answer 7

false – only the wilted ones

Question 8

What is the treatment for a cow with wild cherry toxicity?

Answer 8

Na thiosulfate / Na nitrate IV

Question 9

What is the clinical sign of japanese yew toxicity?

Answer 9

death due to the heart stopping

Question 10

what is the onset of japanese yew toxicity?

Answer 10

1-3 hours

Question 11

what is the toxic dose of japanese yew for a 1200 lb cow?

Answer 11

1 lb

Question 12

how do you treat japanese yew toxicity?

Answer 12

you cannot :(

Question 13

T/F: japanese yew plants are very common and the leaves become more toxic as they mature throughout the year.

Answer 13

true

Question 14

what is the toxin responsible for japanese yew toxicity?

Answer 14

taxine

Question 15

what are the major clinical signs associated with buckeye toxicity?

Answer 15

1. goose stepping (stilted gait and staggering)
2. down + hyperesthesia

Question 16

what is the toxin responsible for buckeye toxicity?

Answer 16

glycosides – aesculin and fraxin

Question 17

what organ system is affected in buckeye toxicity?

Answer 17

brain

Question 18

what is the onset for buckeye toxicity?

Answer 18

12-24 hours

Question 19

how much buckeye does a 1200 lb cow need to eat in order to get buckeye toxicity?

Answer 19

5 lbs

Question 20

what is the treatment for buckeye toxicity?

Answer 20

1. prevent bloat from being in lateral recumbency
2. prevent drowning
3. prevent injury from falling

sedate with xylazine/acepromazine

Question 21

what are the clinical signs associated with acorn toxicity?

Answer 21

Ain’t doing right
hemorrhagic diarrhea (mild, with distinctive odor)
ruminal fluid distention

Question 22

what organ systems does acorn toxicity affect?

Answer 22

kidneys* – renal tubular necrosis
GI – watery black diarrhea

Question 23

what is the onset for acorn toxicity?

Answer 23

days (only when clinical signs become apparent)

Question 24

T/F: the toxic dose for acorns is 5 lbs per 1200 lb cow

Answer 24

false – the toxic dose is unknown

Question 25

what is a diagnostic feature of acorn toxicity?

Answer 25

extremely elevated BUN and creatinine

Question 26

how do you treat acorn toxicity?

Answer 26

IV and oral fluids, but this is unrewarding usually due to extent of renal failure when clinical signs finally become apparent.

Question 27

what is the toxin responsible for acorn toxicity?

Answer 27

tannins

Question 28

T/F: acorns can cause birth defects in pregnant cows if consumed, even if at non-toxic doses

Answer 28

true

Question 29

What causes 'summer slump'?

Answer 29

fescue

Question 30

what two categories of cattle are affected by summer slump and whats the difference in their signs?

Answer 30

1. Stockers -- decreased growth by 20-70% 2. Cows -- early embryonic death in cows that are bred during summer heat because fescue raises body temp and any temp > 104 within 7 days after fertilization will result in 100% death... (appears as infetility)

Question 31

what toxin occurs mostly in goats?

Answer 31

rhododendron toxicity!

Question 32

What is the clinical sign of rhododendron toxicity in goats?

Answer 32

projectile vomiting and generalized weakness

Question 33

what is the treatment for goats with rhododendron toxicity?

Answer 33

supportive care

Question 34

what does nitrate toxicity cause?

Answer 34

Too many nitrates leads to methemoglobulin and an inability to bind oxygen. This leads to anoxia causing the clinical signs we see (exercise intolerance, down, seizures, belligerence).

Question 35

how can you diagnose nitrate toxicity?

Answer 35

chocolate brown blood due to methemoglobin

Question 36

what is the treatment for nitrate toxicity?

Answer 36

1% solution of methylene blue or 1cc/5lb vitamin C

Question 37

what are common sources of nitrate toxicity?

Answer 37

drought-stressed plants (summer annuals, millet, sorghum, sudan grass, johnson grass, oats)

Question 38

T/F: most livestock will not consume weeds unless they are forced by not having access to anything else to eat.

Answer 38

true

Question 39

what are the clinical signs associated with spiny pigweed and what organ is affected?

Answer 39

ADR -- kidney failure is occurring due to nitrate toxicity

Question 40

What are the clinical signs associated with Jimson weed?

Answer 40

increased RR, increased HR, urination and defecation

Question 41

What is the biggest clinical signs associated with sweet vernal grass?

Answer 41

bleeding out due to warfarin (an anticoagulant)

Question 42

what is the major clinical sign of perilla mint ingestion?

Answer 42

acute respiratory distress (panting) note: this is one weed that livestock will occasionally eat by choice.

Question 43

what are the clinical signs associated with livestock who have ingested pokeweed?

Answer 43

diarrhea and colic.