Toxic Plants Flashcards
What are the main clinical signs associated with wild cherry toxicity?
Exercise intolerance, down, down with seizures, dead
Describe the pathogenesis of wild cherry toxicity in cattle.
Blood-oxygen is irreversibly bound to hemoglobin resulting in venous blood being bright “cherry” red
What is the toxin responsible for wild cherry toxicity?
Cyanide (Prussic acid)
What is the onset time of wild cherry toxicity?
15-20 minutes
What is the toxic dose of wild cherries?
1-5 lbs for 1200 lb cow
How to diagnose wild cherry toxicity
Clinical signs, history of exposure, presence of wild cherry leaves in rumen on necropsy
What is the treatment for wild cherry toxicity?
Sodium thiosulfate/nitrate
-100-250 mL IV
-from reconstituted bulk powder
When are wild cherry leaves the most likely to cause clinical problems?
When the leaves are wilted and young- after fence rows are being replaced or after a thunderstorm causing trees to be down or limbs broken down
What are the clinical signs and organ affected during japanese yew toxicity?
Acute death due to cardiac arrest
What is the onset time of japanese yew toxicity?
1-3 hours
What is the toxic dose of japanese yew toxicity?
1 lb/1200 lb cow
When are japanese yew plants the most toxic?
Older leaves
-usually occurs due to suburban encroachment on farmland, or cattle tearing into neighbors yards
What is the toxin responsible for japanese yew toxicity?
Taxine
What are the main clinical signs of buckeye toxicity?
Goose stepping (slilted gait), down, and hyperesthesia
What is the main organ affected in buckeye toxicity cases?
The brain- neurologic signs similar to grass tetany common
What are the main toxins responsible for buckeye toxicity?
Glycosides aesculin and fraxin, and possibly a narcotic alkaloid
What is the onset time of buckeye toxicity?
12-24 hours
What is the toxic dose of buckeye toxicity?
As little as 0.5% of body weight of the animal can produce severe poisoning
- around 5 lb for a 1200 lb cow
What time of the year is buckeye toxicity most frequent?
During college football season
What is the treatment for buckeye toxicity?
No direct treatment- supportive care
- prevent bloat from lateral recumbency, prevent from drowning in pond/creek, prevent injury
-sedation to prevent injury
What is the primary toxin responsible for buckeye toxicity?
Glycoside aesculin
What are the main clinical signs of acorn toxicity?
ADR, hemorrhagic diarrhea (very distinct odor), ruminal fluid distention
What are the main organs affected by acorn toxicity?
Kidneys- causes renal tubular necrosis
GI- results in watery black diarrhea
What is the onset time of acorn toxicosis?
Days
What time of year is acorn toxicosis most commonly seen?
College football season
What is the treatment for acorn toxicosis?
Supportive care-fluids
-generally unrewarding
What is the toxin responsible for acorn toxicosis?
Tannins
What can happen to the fetus if non-lethal doses of acorns are consumed by pregnant cows?
Birth defects
Define summer slump as it relates to stockers vs cows.
Stockers- fescue toxicity resulting in a decreased growth rate by 20-70%
Cows- appears as infertility due to early abortions
What species does rhododendron toxicity usually affect and what are the main clinical signs?
Goats in late winter
-signs include projectile vomiting and generalized weakness
-treat with supportive care
What does nitrate toxicity result in?
Anorexia, methemoglobinemia (chocolate brown blood)
What is the treatment for nitrate toxicity?
1% solution methylene blue at 10 mg/kg
What are the main sources of nitrate toxicity?
Drought stressed plants- specifically millet, sorghum, sudan grass, johnson grass, oats
