Toxicology and Poisonous Plants Lecture Review Flashcards
Any substance that when introduced into or applied onto the body can interfere with the life processes of cells of the organism
toxicant
The process of removing or neutralizing injurious agents
Decontamination
describes a particular way thations and molecules bind metal ions.
Typically used with heavy metal toxicities
chelation
represents the individual dose required to kill50percent of a population of test animals
LD50
TREAT THE PATIENT NOT THE ____________
Poison. Always remember to stabilize your patient first and foremost
methods of decontamination for ocular/topical exposure
ocular irrigation
bathing
methods of decontamination for Oral Ingestion
dilution
emesis
activated charcoal
cathartics
enemas
gastric lavage
enterogastric lavage
Dilution is the solution for ______________
pollution
what is the recommended method of decontamination for corrosive or caustic agents?
dilution
When is it appropriate to induce emesis for decontamination?
best within 1-3 hours of ingestion, in an asymptomatic patient
never with caustic/corrosive substances
never with petroleum distillates
never in symptomatic patients
What are some agents used to induce emesis?
3% hydrogen peroxide (fresh)
syrup of ipecac
apomorphine
xylazine (rarely)
True/False. Salt is an excellent choice to induce emesis
FALSE. risk for gastric ulceration
this acts a magnet to adsorb toxicants from the GI tract
activated charcoal
used to enhance elimination of the activated charcoal
cathartics (Ex: sorbitol, bulk cathartics)
method of decontamination of caustic/corrosive substances and/or petroleum distillates
gastric lavage
method of decontamination when potentially lethal oral exposures have occurred; only used under the direct supervision of a DVM
enterogastric lavage
Decontamination Dos
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
Decontamination Donts
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.
Most Common side effects when topical/spot-on products are used appropriately
taste reaction and/or local application site reaction
Cats: Severe reaction if ______________ products are applied topically, resulting in seizures and/or tremors.
permethrin
The general rule of thumb for chocolate is:
the more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is
clinical signs chocolate toxcity
Depending on the dose of methylxanthine, the resulting signs are hyperactivity, tachycardia, tachypnea, trembling and potentially death
clinical signs of onion/garlic toxicity
may cause hemolytic anemia
clinical signs rising bread dough ingestion
Clinical Signs are associated w/ ethanol toxicosis and foreign body obstruction: severe abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, incoordination, depression
true/false. grapes eaten in any quantity may cause kidney failure
TRUE
clinical signs tobacco ingestion
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
clinical signs xylitol toxicity
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
treatment of an acidic or alkaline cleaning agent
stabilize, DILUTION, check for mucosal ulcerations
t/f. drinking toilet bowl water that contains a tank drop-in tablet is not likely to cause signs of toxicity
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
major source of zinc toxicity; may be found in your wallet
pennies minted after 1983
heavy metal toxicity causes vague clinical signs but is often associated with damage to
the red blood cell
t/f
Veterinary treatment of mothball ingestion is always required
true
organophosphates and/or carbamates found in fly baits and insecticides commonly cause symptoms of
“SLUDGE”: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, GI cramping, Emesis
the antidote for organophosphates and/or carbamates,
atropine
Three main types Rat or Mouse Bait
Anticoagulants
Bromethalin
Cholechalciferol
clinical signs of anticoagulant rat bait
72 hours after ingestion– blood clotting abnormalities and can result in spontaneous hemorrhage
antidote anticoagulant rat bait
Vitamin K1
clinical signs of bromethalin rat bait
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.
clinical signs of cholecalciferol rat bait
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)
types of antifreeze products
Methanol
Propylene Glycol
Ethylene Glycol
active ingredient in “safer” forms of antifreeze
Propylene Glycol
Most dangerous form of antifreeze; most commercial forms of antifreeze contain
Ethylene Glycol (EG)
clinical signs Ethylene Glycol toxicity
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.
antidote Ethylene Glycol toxicity
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.
clinical signs of acetaminophen toxicity
methemoglobinemia, liver failure
what species is particularly susceptible to acetaminophen toxicity
cats
what makes cats so susceptible to acetaminophen toxicity
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.
clinical signs associated with human NSAID toxicity
gastric ulceration–which may cause vomiting of digested blood (coffee ground appearance)
Marijuana Clinical Signs:
Prolonged depression, vomiting, incoordination, sleepiness or excitation, hypersalivaton, dilated pupils, low blood pressure, low body temperature, seizure, coma, death (rare)
Azalea/Rhododendronclinical signs
cardiovascular dysfunction
Cardiac Glycosides (Oleander, Foxglove)
cardiovascular dysfunction
clinical signs castor bean
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.
clinical signs lily ingestion in cats
associated with kidney failure
sago palm toxicity is associated with
Liver failure
Calcium-Oxalate-Containing Plants
clinical signs
oral irritation, burning of lips, mouth, tongue, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
clinical signs red maple toxicity in horses
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)
Bracken Fern toxicity cattle
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%
Bracken Fern toxicity horses
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.
