Toxicology

Welcome to Practical Toxicology, brought to you in partnership between Today’s Veterinary Practice and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) (aspcapro.org/poison). This column provides practical clinical information about diagnosing and treating pets that have been exposed to potentially harmful substances. The APCC: Provides 24-hour diagnostic and treatment recommendations by specially trained veterinary toxicologists Protects …

Charlotte Means, DVM MLIS, DABVT, DABT ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center University of Illinois Welcome to Practical Toxicology, brought to you in partnership between Today’s Veterinary Practice and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) (aspcapro.org/poison). This column provides practical clinical information about diagnosing and treating pets that have been exposed to potentially harmful substances. …

Although we mostly think of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) as the alcohol used in beverages, it is also found in other substances: liquid medications, cosmetics, hand sanitizers, perfumes, colognes, mouthwashes, food flavorings (eg, vanilla extract), alcohol-filled chocolates, and fermenting yeast bread dough.

Tremorgenic mycotoxins are metabolites produced by fungi that cause neurotoxicosis in dogs. While several fungal metabolites may cause this intoxication, current research supports penitrem A as the primary mycotoxin involved…

It can be daunting to try to figure out what you need to have on hand to treat toxicologic cases. When making decisions, it is most helpful to break down the treatment into 2 phases: decontamination and clinical management.

Exposures to this toxin present a unique challenge to clinicians. Once signs of convulsant syndrome—a neurologic syndrome caused by bromethalin toxicosis—have developed, prognosis for recovery is poor.

It is Fourth of July weekend, and you are prepared for the many unscheduled appointments, from patients with gastroenteritis due to downing hot dogs to those suffering from noise phobia. However, the patients you end up seeing are neither fearful nor full of food. In the exam room, Mrs. Smith explains that her dog ate firecrackers. A technician takes a phone call and reports that Mr. Jones is coming in—his dog ingested sparklers. Then the whole Doe family arrives with their dog: while walking by the river this morning, Fido chewed on remains of the municipal fireworks.

Dr. Charlotte Means of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center discusses types of fertilizers to which pets are commonly exposed and provides tips on diagnosing and managing fertilizer ingestion.

In this issue, we had a chance to talk to the Medical Director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), Tina Wismer, DVM, Diplomate ABVT & ABT. She is not only responsible for overseeing medical recommendations made by the veterinary staff, but is also highly involved in lecturing, making media appearances, and writing, as …