TREATMENT/ HANDLING THE CASES OF POISONING IN PETS & FARM ANIMALS
Dr.Jitendra Singh,VO, Kampur Dehat, UP
Vets encounter Various type of poisoning in the field . Animals die or perform poorly after accidentally ingesting these poisons. Gradual poisoning may also occur in areas with heavy industrial pollution.
Poisoning is contact with a substance that results in toxicity. Symptoms vary, but certain common syndromes may suggest particular classes of poisons. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, but for some poisonings, blood and urine tests can help. Treatment is supportive for most poisonings; specific antidotes are necessary for a few.
Before going in detail we must know some terminology related to it for better understanding.
Toxicology : It is the study of nature and effects of poisonous or toxic substances.
Toxicity : It is inherent capacity of substance to produce harmful effects.
Poison : It is any substance(liquid/solid/gas) that causes deleterious effects in a living organism.
Venoms : These are substances produced by reptiles for their defence mechanism. E.g. Snake Venom.
Toxins : These are the poisonous substances produced in animal tissues bybthe action of bacteria or waste products that are not recovered from body due to liveror kidney failure.
Antidote : These are the drugs or chemical agents that neutralize the effects of poison.
SOURCES OF POISONING
There are two major sources of poisoning in animals
– 1) Natural Sources 2) Human oriented sources
1) Natural Sources
1.1. Plants : Ipomea carnea, Datura alba, Atropa belladonna, Strychnus nuxvomica, Young shoots of sorghum, Nitrate rich plants
1.2. Animals : Poisonous snake bite (Cobra, Krait, Russel viper and Rattle snake). Scorpion bite, Toad toxin, Tick toxins and Spider venom.
1.3. Minerals or metals : Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Selenium, Fluoride.
2.) Human oriented sources
2.1 Accidental causes a) Fertilizers : Urea, phosphate or Nitrate fertilizers. b) Insecticides : Organophosphates, Organochlorines, Carbamates, Pyrethroids. c) Rodenticides : Zinc phosphide. d) Industrial effluents : Lead, Fluorine, Cyanide, Mercury, Nitrate. e) Radiation hazards
2.2 Malacious poisoning Unlawful discriminal killing of animals by administering poisons e.g. Zinc phosphide, Strychnine, Abrus etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF POISONING
The classification of poison on the basis of its effecr on body is as follows:
1.)Poisons causing respiratory insufficiency (anoxia) by
1.1 Hindering oxygen uptake from pulmonary alveolie.g. Petroleum products, Nitrous oxide, Sulfur oxide.
1.2 Hindering oxygen transport to tissues e.g. Nitrites/Nitrates – Formation of Methaemoglobin.
1.3 Inhibiting oxygen utilization by tissue cells e.g. HCN/Cyanide – Inhibiting enzyme cytochrome oxidase.
2) Poisons causing nerbous stimulation or depression by
2.1 Directly damaging the brain or spinal cord e.g. Salt, Organomercurials.
2.2 Acting on known receptor sites e.g. Organophosphates and Carbamate pesticides – inhibits enzyme acetyl cholinesterase.
2.3 Causing nervous stimulation or depression by unknown mechanism e.g. Chlorinated hydrocarbons, Lead, Acute Fluoride poisoning.
3) Poisons causing severe liver damage e.g. Aflaxtoxins and other mold toxins.
4) Poisons causing severe kidney damage e.g. Mold toxins, Carbamates.
5) Poisons causing severe colic
5.1 Direct corrosives/irritants e.g. Chemicals.
5.2 Metabolic poisons e.g. Arsenic, Urea.
6) poisons causing bone, tooth, hoof and hair abnormalities e.g. Fluorosis, Selenium toxicosis
7) poisons causing lesions on skin’ e.g. Corrosives (acid/alkalies), Mold toxins, Photosensitizing plants like Lantana Camara, Tribulus species.
TYPES OF TOXICITY
1. ACUTE TOXICITY :
It results from exposure of animals to high dose of a compound usually a single exposure or exposure over a short period. The animals exhibit immediate onser of severe toxic symptoms and usually die suddenly.
2. Subacute toxicity :
slow development of toxicity on repeated exposure to subtoxic doses of a compound over aperiod upto 90 days.
3. Chronic toxicity :
it results from exposure to still less doses than in subacute toxicity over aperiod of 6 months or more.
Diagnosis of Poisoning;– ————-
1. Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Abdominal pains.- Zinc, Copper, Arsenic, Iron salts. Acids, Alkalies, Phenols, Turpentine.
2. Convulsions-Ammonia salts, Cyanides, Nitrates and Nitrites, Phenol, Strychnine.
3. Coma-Bromides, Carbon monoxide, Nicotine, Alcohol.
4. Muscular inco-ordination Ammonium salts, Boric Acid, Cyanide, Nicotine, Nitrates, Oxalates.
5. Dilatation of Pupil-Nicotine, Water hemlock, Hyoscine.
6. Contraction of Pupils-Opium derivatives.
7. Slow respiration-Atropin, Hypnotics
8. Rapid Respiration-Ammonium salts, Nicotin, Urea.
9. Dyspnoea-Carbon monoxide, Cyanides, Sulpuur Dioxide
lO. Lameness-Flourine, Ergot, Insecticides.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT OF POISONING
Depending upon tentative, presumptive or confirmative diagnosis and health status of poisoned animal treatment is given. The treatment is broadly divided into five categories.
1) General Procedures
1.1 Removal of source of poison :
shifting animal to fresh feed and water.
1.2 Removal of unabsorbed toxicant from GI tract and skin
a) If poison is ingested then it can be removed by using- Gastric lavagee with neutralizing agent or water. Emetics : e.g. 30-60 gm of common salt in a glassful warm water. Purgatives: e.g. Saline purgatives are beneficial for removal of non-irritant poisons. E.g. Magnesium Sulphate @ 250-500 gm orally in large animals. Oily purgatives are preferred in case of irritant poisons.
b) If the source of poisoning is through eye or skin then – Wash the skin thoroughly with lot of water (Avoid scrubbing) Wash the eyes with water or normal saline.
2) Removal of absorbed toxin-
Intensive fluid therapy (Inj. Dextrose 5%) to promote excretion of toxin.
3) Common Antidotal Therapy
This comprises administration of neutralizing or detoxifying agents.
3.1 Use of universal antidote (2 parts activated charcoal + 1 part Tannic acid + 1 part Magnesium oxide). Dose : 250 gm for large animals, 15-30 gm for small animals.
3.2 Administration of egg white (from 6-8 eggs) and milk (500 ml) orally to neutralize heavy metals.
3.3 Use of 15-20 drops of tr. Iodine in 100-125 ml of drinking water to precipitate alkaloids, strychnine, mercury and lead.
3.4 Use of 5% acetic acid or vinegar or lemon juice to dilute alkali poisons.
3.5 Use of lime water, powdered chalk to dilute acid poisons.
4) Specific antidotal Therapy
It is the use of exact antidote against certain poisoning on its confirmation. Poisoning Specific Antidote HCN poisoning Sodium nitrite and sdium thiosulphate. Nitrate poisoning Methylene blue Organophosphate poisoning Atropine sulphate Lead poisoning Ca disodium EDTA
5) Symptomatic Treatment
It comprises the treatment based on symptoms
5.1 Maintenance of clear air way.
5.2 Use of respiratory stimulants. e.g. inj Nikethamide @ 7-11 mg/kg IM,IV.
5.3 Control of convulsions by using sedatives. e.g. inj Diazepam @0.5-1 mg/kg IM, IV.
5.4 Giving CNS stimulants in case of severe depression. e.g. Caffeine 0.5 g IV (Dog 0.1-1.0 g SC)
5.5 In case of shock, protection of the animal from cold and use of corticosteroids / adrenaline and fluid therapy. 5.6 Intensive fluid therapy to counteract dehydration owing to diarrhea or vomition.
5.7 Oral administration of demulcents (mixture of egg, sugar and milk or rice gruel) to alleviate irritation caused by poisons.
6) Supportive Treatment This is given during and after recovery from poisoning.
6.1 Liver tonics to promote appetite and liver function.
6.2 Fluids and electrolytes to compensate water and electrolyte losses.
6.3 Dextrose to compensate lost energy.
6.4 Antibiotics to check secondary bacterial Uinfections
Common Antidotes ;-
Any poison remaining in the stomach should be neutralized as far as possible by administration of suitable chemical antidotes.
1. Universal oral Antidote :- Preparation –
(a) Activated Charcoal –2 Parts
(b) Magnesium oxide —2 Parts
(c) Tannic acid –1 Part
(d) Kaoline –1 Part.
Doses :- 1. Cattle, Horses —250 gm–2 to 3 times a day
2. Calves –30 gram–do
3. Sheep, Goat, Pigs.—15 gram—do
4 Dogs —-. 30 gms, with 300 ml. water well shaked.
Mixture of this antidote should be given in three parts of a day.
N. B. :- Antidote given should be followed by saline purgatives 450 gms., mag. sulph. in cattle.
2. Tannic Acid ;- In the form of solution in water, Tannic acid effectively precipitates aluminium, lead, silver and the alkaloids (Useless against arsenic trioxide.)
3. Iodine solution (15 drops of the tincture in half a glass of water) effctive for precipitation of lead, mercury, silver and certain alkaloides of quinine and strychnine.
4. Acid neutralization.- By giving lime water, mag. carbonate.
5. Alkali neutralization.- Vinegar (5 per cent acetic acid), lemonjuice, citric acid 5-10 per cent solution, Potassium permanganate solution has some value in oxidation of phosphorus. (Dilute solution, of KMnO 4 1 in 2000).
6. Milk and egg white neutralize heavy metals and phenols.
7. Demulcents.- Mixture of eggs, sugar and milk to linseed-tea or oatmeal-~el allays irritation caused by poison.
GENERAL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF TOXICITY IN ANIMALS
diagnosis-and-treatment-of-toxicity
Reference:On request.
