Zootoxins/Recreational Drugs

Question 1

What species of Bufo toads are our companion animals exposed to?

Answer 1

1. Cane or marine toad (Florida, south Texas, Hawaii, Puerto Rico)
2. Colorado River Toad (Southwest US: Arizona - California)

Question 2

Where are the toxins located and released from in the bufo toad?

Answer 2

Parotid glands

Question 3

What toxins do bufo toads release?

Answer 3

Catecholamines and Serotonin
Bufotenine
Bufagenins
Bufotoxins
Indole alkylamines - similar to the hallucinogen LSD

Question 4

What bufo toxin is a schedule I drug?

Answer 4

Bufotenine - has hallucinogenic effects

Question 5

Bufagenins and bufotoxins are _____ steriods similar to _____

Answer 5

Cardioactive steroids similar to Digitalis

Question 6

What animals are most susceptible to bufotoad poisoning?

Answer 6

Dogs

Cats and ferrets can also be poisoned

Question 7

What is the toxic dose of bufo toad secretions? When are animals most susceptible to exposure?

Answer 7

1 mg/kg of secretions

Summer in the evening/night

Question 8

How are bufotoxins absorbed and distributed throughout the body?

Answer 8

Absorbed through MM, gastric mucosa, conjunctiva, open skin wounds

Distributed all over the body including the CNS

Question 9

What clinical signs are associated with bufotoxins?

Answer 9

*Direct irritation of MM - salivation, bright red MM, vocalization, and vomiting

Main organs effects: heart, blood vessels, CNS

• disorientation, ataxia, circling, sz, rigidity, vertical nystagmus etc
• tachycardia, arrhythmias, sometimes bradycardia

Question 10

What is the treatment recommended for bufotoad toxicosis?

Answer 10

Flush the mouth with running water
Activated charcoal
Control sz/muscle tremors, atropine prn for bradycardia, lido prn for ventricular tachyarrhythmias, supportive therapy

Digoxin immune fab may be used to bind bufagenins and bufotoxins

Question 11

What poisonous snakes are in North America?

Answer 11

Pit vipers (Crotalid family) - rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and water moccasins

Coral snakes

Question 12

Is bufotoxicosis an acute or chronic process?

Answer 12

Acute

Question 13

All US states have pit vipers except..?

Answer 13

Maine, Alaska, Hawaii

Question 14

T/F: Dogs are more sensitive to snake venom than cats

Answer 14

TRUE

Question 15

What is the primary effect of pit viper envenomation?

Answer 15

Hypocoagulation

Question 16

What clinical signs may be seen in a dog that’s been bitten by a venomous snake?

Answer 16

Rapid or delayed clinical signs

Severe swelling around bite and oozing from punctures, PAIN, petechiation, and necrosis

untreated can progress to DIC

Question 17

What treatments can be done for a snake bite patients?

Answer 17

Antivenin (for dogs) - risk of allergic rxn (tx with corticosteroid and diphenhydramine, IVF) - needs to be admin ASAP - $$$$

analgesics, blood products prn, broad spectrum ABs, immobilize animals

No NSAIDs

Question 18

What is the primary effect of coral snake envenomation?

Answer 18

*Neurotoxic - Curare-like effects

Dogs -hemolysis and anemia

Question 19

What animals do not show anemia or hemolysis after being bitten by coral snakes?

Answer 19

Cats

Question 20

What is the treatment for copper snake bites?

Answer 20

Micrurus fulvius antivenin - specific

Other tx will be similar to pit viper bites (Symptomatic and supportive)

Question 21

What is the route of absorption, distribution, and metabolism of amphetamine and methamphetamines?

Answer 21

Readily orally absorbed and distributed widely - including the CNS

Metabolized in the liver - some metabolites might be active

Question 22

T/F: Amphetamine and its metabolites are excreted in the urine which is pH dependent

Answer 22

TRUE

Question 23

What clinical signs will be noted in a dog that has ingested amphetamines?

Answer 23

hyperactivity, restlessness, *circling, tremors, ataxia, seizures, hyperthermia

Some patients might show depression, weakness, and bradycardia

Question 24

What treatment is rec. for animals that have ingested amphetamines?

Answer 24

Induction of emesis, activated charcoal, Tx of sz (Benzodiazepines are not recommended), Ace for sedation, tachyarrhythmias tx with beta blockers or lidocaine

Urinary acidifiers (ammonium chloride or ascorbic acid) will enhance renal excretion

IVF etc

Question 25

How is cocaine absorbed and distributed in dogs?

Answer 25

absorbed via all MM - crosses the BBB and Alveolar capillaries

Question 26

What clinical signs are noted in dogs that have ingested cocaine?

Answer 26

Vomiting, hypersalivation, mydriasis, hyperactivity (not the same intense circling as noted with amphetamines), Convulsive seizures, hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea

Question 27

What treatments should be done in a dog that has ingested cocaine?

Answer 27

Induce emesis only if patient is NOT clinical yet
Gastric lavage with activated charcoal
Control of sz - diazepam
Betablockers - tackyarrhythmias, IVF with sodium bicarb if acidosis is present

Question 28

How is THC absorbed in canine patients?

Answer 28

rabidly absorbed orally and by inhalation

Oral absorption is increase by a fatty meal

Question 29

What clinical signs are associated with THC poisoning in dogs?

Answer 29

Vomiting, CNS depression, ataxia/incoordination, hypothermia

seizures, hyperexcitability, brady or tachycardia, apprehension

Question 30

T/F: Clinical signs from THC poisoning in dogs may resolve without treatment

Answer 30

TRUE

If tx is chosen - activated charcoal (repeated doses), IVF, diazepam etc (supportive care)