Toxicology and Poisonous Plants Lecture Review

Question 1

Any substance that when introduced into or applied onto the body can interfere with the life processes of cells of the organism

Answer 1

toxicant

Question 2

The process of removing or neutralizing injurious agents

Answer 2

Decontamination

Question 3

describes a particular way thations and molecules bind metal ions.
Typically used with heavy metal toxicities

Answer 3

chelation

Question 4

represents the individual dose required to kill50percent of a population of test animals

Answer 4

LD50

Question 5

TREAT THE PATIENT NOT THE ____________

Answer 5

Poison. Always remember to stabilize your patient first and foremost

Question 6

methods of decontamination for ocular/topical exposure

Answer 6

ocular irrigation
bathing

Question 7

methods of decontamination for Oral Ingestion

Answer 7

dilution
emesis
activated charcoal
cathartics
enemas
gastric lavage
enterogastric lavage

Question 8

Dilution is the solution for ______________

Answer 8

pollution

Question 9

what is the recommended method of decontamination for corrosive or caustic agents?

Answer 9

dilution

Question 10

When is it appropriate to induce emesis for decontamination?

Answer 10

best within 1-3 hours of ingestion, in an asymptomatic patient

never with caustic/corrosive substances
never with petroleum distillates
never in symptomatic patients

Question 11

What are some agents used to induce emesis?

Answer 11

3% hydrogen peroxide (fresh)
syrup of ipecac
apomorphine
xylazine (rarely)

Question 12

True/False. Salt is an excellent choice to induce emesis

Answer 12

FALSE. risk for gastric ulceration

Question 13

this acts a magnet to adsorb toxicants from the GI tract

Answer 13

activated charcoal

Question 14

used to enhance elimination of the activated charcoal

Answer 14

cathartics (Ex: sorbitol, bulk cathartics)

Question 15

method of decontamination of caustic/corrosive substances and/or petroleum distillates

Answer 15

gastric lavage

Question 16

method of decontamination when potentially lethal oral exposures have occurred; only used under the direct supervision of a DVM

Answer 16

enterogastric lavage

Question 17

Decontamination Dos

Answer 17

Treat the patient not the poison.
Stabilize the animal before attempting decontamination procedures.
Get complete history of the animal and the exposure data.
Keep the ASPCA APCC phone number handy in your clinic.1-888-4ANI-HELP

Question 18

Decontamination Donts

Answer 18

Bathe a seizing animal. (Always stabilize the animal first.)

Use salt as an emetic agent.Induce emesis in a seizing, extremely stimulated, or hyperactive animal.

Induce emesis in a vomiting animal.

Induce emesis in a severely lethargic, comatose, or debilitated patient.

Induce emesis in an animal that has had recent abdominal surgery.

Induce emesis with a corrosive ingestion.

Induce emesis with hydrocarbon/ petroleum distillate ingestion.

Question 19

Most Common side effects when topical/spot-on products are used appropriately

Answer 19

taste reaction and/or local application site reaction

Question 20

Cats: Severe reaction if ______________ products are applied topically, resulting in seizures and/or tremors.

Answer 20

permethrin

Question 21

The general rule of thumb for chocolate is:

Answer 21

the more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is

Question 22

clinical signs chocolate toxcity

Answer 22

Depending on the dose of methylxanthine, the resulting signs are hyperactivity, tachycardia, tachypnea, trembling and potentially death

Question 23

clinical signs of onion/garlic toxicity

Answer 23

may cause hemolytic anemia

Question 24

clinical signs rising bread dough ingestion

Answer 24

Clinical Signs are associated w/ ethanol toxicosis and foreign body obstruction: severe abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, incoordination, depression

Question 25

true/false. grapes eaten in any quantity may cause kidney failure

Answer 25

TRUE

Question 26

clinical signs tobacco ingestion

Answer 26

Clinical signs develop quickly: excitement, tachycardia, tachypnea, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea Clinical signs after the initial excitability may progress to shallow breathing, muscle weakness, tremors, depression, collapse, coma, death. Death is due to respiratory paralysis

Question 27

clinical signs xylitol toxicity

Answer 27

HYPOGLYCEMIA (LOW Blood Glucose) within 30 minutes of ingestion.... which manifests as weakness, lethargy, collapse, ataxia, vomiting elevated liver enzymes within 18-72 hours of ingestion

Question 28

treatment of an acidic or alkaline cleaning agent

Answer 28

stabilize, DILUTION, check for mucosal ulcerations

Question 29

t/f. drinking toilet bowl water that contains a tank drop-in tablet is not likely to cause signs of toxicity

Answer 29

TRUE. the concentration in the toilet water is very low, so clinical signs unlikely, other than mild gastric irritation Corrosive effects may be seen if tablet is chewed

Question 30

major source of zinc toxicity; may be found in your wallet

Answer 30

pennies minted after 1983

Question 31

heavy metal toxicity causes vague clinical signs but is often associated with damage to

Answer 31

the red blood cell

Question 32

t/f Veterinary treatment of mothball ingestion is always required

Answer 32

true

Question 33

organophosphates and/or carbamates found in fly baits and insecticides commonly cause symptoms of

Answer 33

“SLUDGE”: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, GI cramping, Emesis

Question 34

the antidote for organophosphates and/or carbamates,

Answer 34

atropine

Question 35

Three main types Rat or Mouse Bait

Answer 35

Anticoagulants Bromethalin Cholechalciferol

Question 36

clinical signs of anticoagulant rat bait

Answer 36

72 hours after ingestion-- blood clotting abnormalities and can result in spontaneous hemorrhage

Question 37

antidote anticoagulant rat bait

Answer 37

Vitamin K1

Question 38

clinical signs of bromethalin rat bait

Answer 38

occur within 24 hr to 2 weeks and include muscle tremors, seizures, hyperexcitability, forelimb extensor rigidity, ataxia, CNS depression, loss of vocalization, paresis, paralysis and death.

Question 39

clinical signs of cholecalciferol rat bait

Answer 39

kidney failure delayed onset of 18-38 hr; vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, PU/PD, cardiac arrhythmias kidney failure results from Ca deposition in the kidneys (elevated BUN/CREA)

Question 40

types of antifreeze products

Answer 40

Methanol Propylene Glycol Ethylene Glycol

Question 41

active ingredient in "safer" forms of antifreeze

Answer 41

Propylene Glycol

Question 42

Most dangerous form of antifreeze; most commercial forms of antifreeze contain

Answer 42

Ethylene Glycol (EG)

Question 43

clinical signs Ethylene Glycol toxicity

Answer 43

Stage 1: This occurs within 30 minutes to 12 hours, and looks similar to alcohol poisoning. Signs of walking drunk, drooling, vomiting, seizing, and excessive thirst and urination may be seen. Stage 2: This occurs within 12-24 hours post-exposure, and clinical signs seem to “resolve” when in fact more severe internal injury is still occurring. Stage 3: In cats, this stage occurs 12-24 hours after ethylene glycol exposure. In dogs, this stage occurs 36-72 hours post-ingestion. During this stage, severe acute kidney failure is occurring. Signs of inappetance, lethargy, drooling, halitosis (secondary to kidney failure), coma, depression, vomiting, and seizures may be seen.

Question 44

antidote Ethylene Glycol toxicity

Answer 44

Fomepizole is the preferred treatment in dogs but is not effective in cats. It inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase. Ethanol can be used in dogs and cats. It competes with EG as a substrate for alcohol dehydrogenase.

Question 45

clinical signs of acetaminophen toxicity

Answer 45

methemoglobinemia, liver failure

Question 46

what species is particularly susceptible to acetaminophen toxicity

Answer 46

cats

Question 47

what makes cats so susceptible to acetaminophen toxicity

Answer 47

The parent compound of this drug is relatively safe, but the metabolites are highly toxic. Cats cannot scavenge these byproducts because they are relatively deficient in glutathione stores.

Question 48

clinical signs associated with human NSAID toxicity

Answer 48

gastric ulceration--which may cause vomiting of digested blood (coffee ground appearance)

Question 49

Marijuana Clinical Signs:

Answer 49

 Prolonged depression, vomiting, incoordination, sleepiness or excitation, hypersalivaton, dilated pupils, low blood pressure, low body temperature, seizure, coma, death (rare)

Question 50

Azalea/Rhododendron clinical signs

Answer 50

cardiovascular dysfunction

Question 51

Cardiac Glycosides (Oleander , Foxglove)

Answer 51

cardiovascular dysfunction

Question 52

clinical signs castor bean

Answer 52

contain RICIN (highly toxic) abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases of poisoning can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.

Question 53

clinical signs lily ingestion in cats

Answer 53

associated with kidney failure

Question 54

sago palm toxicity is associated with

Answer 54

Liver failure

Question 55

Calcium-Oxalate-Containing Plants clinical signs

Answer 55

oral irritation, burning of lips, mouth, tongue, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing

Question 56

clinical signs red maple toxicity in horses

Answer 56

Horses often die within 18-24 hr of ingestion of wilted leaves Horses that remain alive for 18-24 hr after ingestion of wilted leaves will be severely depressed and cyanotic and produce dark red or brown urine. (methemoglobinemia)

Question 57

Bracken Fern toxicity cattle

Answer 57

Enzootic hematuria; Calves often have difficulty breathing, with pale mucous membranes. Hemorrhages vary from minor mucosal petechia to effusive bleeding, and at times large blood clots form that may be passed in the feces. Mortality rate in cattle >90%

Question 58

Bracken Fern toxicity horses

Answer 58

Bracken Staggers: anorexia, weight loss, incoordination, and a crouching stance while arching the back and neck with the feet placed wide apart. When the horse is forced to move, trembling muscles are noted.