TOXICOLOGY - Farm Animal Toxicity Flashcards
What should you rule out before investigating toxicity in farm animals (unless toxicity is obvious from the history)?
Infectious aetiology
Nutritional aetiology
Husbandry causes
What is the clinical approach to investigating toxiciy in farm animals?
Thorough history
Thorough clinical examination
Assess the surrounding environment
Take diagnostic samples (can store initially and investigate later if indicated)
Monitor response to treatment
Diagnose on post-mortem if necessary
What is the general approach to treating toxicity in farm animals?
Remove them from the source of toxin
Offer alternative feed
Activated charcoal
Fluid therapy
NSAIDS (be aware of risk of kidney damage if it was a nephrotoxin)
Sedation of exhibiting neurological signs
Rumenotomy if acute toxicity to remove rumen content
Which additional questions should you ask yourself if presented with a farm animal toxicity case?
Could this be an insurance case?
Could this be a litigation case?
Could this be a malicious poisoning and should police be involved?
Are there human health/food safety risks?
Give an example of a farm animal toxicity scenario that could be an insurance case
If a farm animal has escaped and ingested a toxin on someone else’s land, insurance can be claimed to compensate for that animal
Give an example of a farm animal toxicity scenario that could be a litigation case
Legal action can be taken against feed companies if their product has resulted in farm animal toxicity
What are the clinical signs of yew toxicity?
Sudden death
How is yew toxicity diagnosed?
Identification of yew leaves in the oesophagus and rumen on post mortem (PM)
What are the clinical signs of rhododendron toxicity?
Teeth grinding
Abdominal pain
Hypersalivation
Projectile vomiting (only cause of projectile vomiting in ruminants)
What is the typical signalment for rhododendron toxicity?
Sheep tend to eat rhododendrons in the winter when there is decreased access to grass out in the field (i.e. due to snow etc.)
How do you treat rhododendron toxicity?
Supportive care
Strong, cold black tea (old wives tale)
What are the clinical signs of lead toxicity?
Muscle twitching
Staggering
Apparent blindness (have retained menace response of pupillary light reflex (PLR))
Frothing at the mouth
Teeth grinding
Abdominal pain
What is the typical signalement for lead toxicity?
Young animals who have escaped, especially if it is in an area where ‘fly tipping’ is prevalent
How do you definitively diagnose lead toxicity?
Serum lead levels
What is the antidote for lead toxicity?
Calcium disodium edetate
Be aware this can be hard to source
How do you treat lead toxicity?
Supportive care
Sedation
Antidote
What should always be done if you are presented with a farm animal with lead toxicity?
Report this case to the Food Standards Agency
