Toxins + amounts

Re: Toxins + amounts

Charmaloo88 — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:24:50 GMT

if you've got a smart phone there's an app for calculating choc toxicity!

Re: Toxins + amounts

JaneRVN — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:21:56 GMT

Chocolate is the most common poison with semi-accurate figures for toxicity.

Grapes/raisins, differs in each dog, with some knocked out with 2 grapes and others show nothing after 500g.

Technically all rodenticides sold for domestic use should be under the toxic dose for dogs, but people often overdose or use commercial products! They need to bring the package and call VPIS!

I would be intersted to see any info on the new 5 and 10p nickel based coins. It is nephrotoxic and nasty. Many dogs on the US die from their nickel based coins. I think ours are a different alloy, but I would still treat as toxicity first and FB second!

Re: Toxins + amounts

SmegSlayer — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:13:17 GMT

BSAVA have just brought out an Poisons Compendium- saw it for the first time last week at my new practice- it's very good

Re: Toxins + amounts

Catherine Raymond — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:03:16 GMT

Chocolate exposure in dogs

Alternative name

theobromine

Description/Source

Confectionary containing theobromine, a methylxanthine, the major alkaloid in the plant Theobroma cacao. Note: Chocolate products may contain other toxic components such as raisins (see Vitis viniferafruits) or coffee beans (see Caffeine).

Species affected

Dogs

Toxicology

Methylxanthines produce central nervous system stimulation by antagonizing cellular adenosine receptors. They also cause increased muscular contractility in both cardiac and skeletal muscle by inhibiting cellular calcium reuptake. The concentration of theobromine is higher in dark chocolate than in milk chocolate. White chocolate contains a very low concentration. Cocoa beans, cocoa butter, cocoa powder and cocoa shell mulches contain the highest concentrations of theobromine.

Risk factors

None known.

Clinical effects

Onset

Usually within 4 hours, sometimes up to 24 hours.

Common signs

Vomiting, abdominal tenderness, hypersalivation, polydipsia, polyuria, excitability, tachycardia (sometimes bradycardia), ataxia and mild hypertension.

Other signs

Muscle rigidity, tremors, convulsions, tachypnoea, hyperthermia, cyanosis, arrhythmias and renal dysfunction.

Treatment

If >9 g of milk chocolate/kg bodyweight or >1.25 g of dark chocolate/kg bodyweight has been ingested, empty the stomach (see Decontamination) and give repeat doses of activated charcoal.
Ensure adequate hydration and give antiemetics if required.
Sedation may be required.
A beta-blocker (e.g. atenolol, propranolol) may be required for severe or prolonged tachycardia.
Symptomatic and supportive care.

Prognosis

Favourable.

Re: Toxins + amounts

Claire Cameron — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:47:46 GMT

[quote user="Steph SVN"]

VPIS have a lot of information i think

[/quote]

They have mountains of info but can't find toxic doses on their website and don't really want to have to bother their staff with non -emergencies

Re: Toxins + amounts

Steph SVN — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:04:34 GMT

VPIS have a lot of information i think

Re: Toxins + amounts

Catherine Raymond — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 11:55:16 GMT

If any of your vets went to BSAVA they would have had a free BSAVA/VPIS poisons book. Any BSAVA members can access the same info if they log onto the BSAVA website