Cross Species - Top 20 Toxicosis Part 3

Question 1

what crotalids are often involved in snake bites?

Answer 1

rattlesnakes, copperheads, & cotton mouths

Question 2

what body systems are affected by snake bites?

Answer 2

dermal, hematopoietic, cardiac, & nervous systems

Question 3

what clinical signs are seen with crotalid bites?

Answer 3

rapid necrotizing skin lesion with dark, bloody oozing fluid, marked swelling, may have neuro signs, & will be followed by coagulopathies & arrhythmias

Question 4

snake bites from corsal snakes affect what part of the body?

Answer 4

nervous system

Question 5

what clinical signs are seen with snake bites from coral snakes?

Answer 5

minimal local pain/swelling, lower motor neuron tetraparesis, tremors, ptyalism, & tachypnea

Question 6

what body system is affected by bites from black widow spiders?

Answer 6

neuromuscular system

Question 7

what clinical signs are seen with black widow spider bites?

Answer 7

anxiety, shallow breathing that is fast, painful muscle cramps, partial paralysis, & signs that can persist for days

Question 8

what body system is affected by bites from brown recluse spiders?

Answer 8

dermal system

Question 9

what clinical signs are seen with bites from brown recluse spiders?

Answer 9

discrete erythematous, very pruritic skin lesion then vesicle then bulls’ eye erythema, hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, DIC, renal failure, shock, & later, development of black eschar which takes months to heal

Question 10

what are the toxic principles of crotalid venom?

Answer 10

hemotoxin, necrotoxin, anticoagulant, and sometimes neurotoxin

Question 11

how are crotalid bites diagnosed?

Answer 11

clinical signs, fang marks, & necrotizing tissue lesions

Question 12

how are coral snake bites diagnosed?

Answer 12

neuro signs, fang marks may be difficult to find, & necrotizing tissue lesions

Question 13

what is the toxic principle from brown recluse venom?

Answer 13

phospholipase - causes fever, vomiting, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, renal failure, & DIC

Question 14

how are brown recluse spider bites diagnosed?

Answer 14

typical lesion appearance & later development of systemic signs

Question 15

when is antivenom best given for crotalid bites?

Answer 15

best within 6 hours but no longer than 24 hours after

Question 16

what treatment is given for crotalid bites?

Answer 16

clip/clean bite, antivenom, iv fluids, steroids are controversial due to risk of infection, analgesics, blood transfusion, & respiratory support

Question 17

what treatment is given for coral snake bites?

Answer 17

clip/clean bite, antivenom (in short supply), iv fluids, analgesics, nursing care, & respiratory support

Question 18

what treatment is given for black widow spider bites?

Answer 18

antivenom, muscle relaxants, & IV calcium gluconate

Question 19

what treatment is given for brown recluse spider bites?

Answer 19

cold pack at the bite, steroids, dapsone, & antibiotics

Question 20

what is the difference between rattlesnakes/cottonmouths/copper heads & coral snakes?

Answer 20

coral snakes are elapsids & the others are crotalids - crotalids are pit vipers with triangular heads & thick bodies

Question 21

how do you differentiate a venomous coral snake from a non-venomous scarlet king snake?

Answer 21

red on yellow, kill the fellow - red on black is a friend to jack

Question 22

where are coral snakes found?

Answer 22

southern USA

Question 23

how are female black widow spiders identified?

Answer 23

shiny black with a red hourglass on abdomen

Question 24

how are brown recluse spiders identified?

Answer 24

fiddleback or violin on dorsum

Question 25

where is the biggest bite location risk for a horse?

Answer 25

on the muzzle from a snake - causes airway obstruction/swelling

Question 26

T/F: fatal snake bites are more common in dogs

Answer 26

TRUE

Question 27

what is the pathophysiology of venom from a black widow bite?

Answer 27

neurotoxin that causes the release of norepinephrine & acetylcholine from nerve terminals

Question 28

what is the pathophysiology of venom from a brown recluse bite?

Answer 28

vasoconstriction, thrombolysis, hemolysis, & necrosis

Question 29

what body systems are affected by non-protein nitrogen toxicity?

Answer 29

CNS, gi, & respiratory systems

Question 30

what animals are most often affected by non-protein nitrogen toxicity?

Answer 30

ruminants most often affected

Question 31

what clinical signs are seen with non-protein nitrogen toxicity?

Answer 31

acute, progressive, & fatal - exophthalmia, abdominal pain, frothy salivation, bruxism, belligerent behavior, tremors, incoordination, weakness, salivation, & dyspnea

Question 32

how is non-protein nitrogen toxicity diagnosed?

Answer 32

history of dietary exposure, measure ammonia-nitrogen in serum/blood/forestomach fluid/urine (freeze specimen immediately)

Question 33

how is non-protein nitrogen toxicity treated?

Answer 33

infuse rumen with 5% acetic acid & ice water & iv fluids with calcium & magnesium

Question 34

why is non-protein nitrogen toxicity also known as ammonia toxicosis?

Answer 34

hyperammonemia

Question 35

how is non-protein nitrogen toxicity prevented?

Answer 35

feed urea at less than 1% of total ruminant ration to prevent - takes weeks for the rumen microflora to adapt to addition of non-protein nitrogen

Question 36

how do ruminants utilize non-protein nitrogen?

Answer 36

ruminants convert NPN via ruminal microbes to NH3 then NH3 & carbohydrate-derived keto acids form amino acids

Question 37

what animals are most often affected by cantharidin toxicity?

Answer 37

horses

Question 38

what body systems are affected by cantharidin toxicity?

Answer 38

gi & renal systems

Question 39

what clinical signs are seen with cantharidin toxicity?

Answer 39

gi & renal irritation - pain, bloody diarrhea, hematuria, endotoxemia/shock with dark/congested mucus membranes, stiff gait, thumps, myocarditis, & possible death

Question 40

how is cantharidin toxicity diagnosed?

Answer 40

measure cantharidin in gastric contents or urine within 3-4 days of ingestion - significant hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, & increased muscle enzymes

Question 41

how is cantharidin toxicity treated?

Answer 41

mineral oil, activated charcoal via NG tube, supplement calcium/magnesium, iv fluid, & analgesics

Question 42

what causes cantharidin toxicity?

Answer 42

blister beetle ingestion

Question 43

what is the pathophsyiology of cantharidin toxicity?

Answer 43

ingestion of blister beetles that contain cantharidin - irritant causes blister & vesicle formation throughout gi & renal tract

Question 44

what is the typical exposure of cantharidin causing toxicity?

Answer 44

beetles getting baled in alfalfa hay

Question 45

how is cantharidin toxicity prevented?

Answer 45

beetles emerge in sw USA in may/june, so alfalfa hay made before or well after is the most safe to feed

Question 46

what body systems are affected by salt toxicity?

Answer 46

gi & CNS

Question 47

what animals are most often affected by salt toxicity?

Answer 47

most common in pigs, cattle, poultry, & increasing occurrence in dogs

Question 48

what clinical signs are seen in cattle with salt toxicity?

Answer 48

gi pain, diarrhea, ataxia, paralysis, & belligerent behavior

Question 49

what clinical signs are seen in birds/poultry with salt toxicity?

Answer 49

dyspnea, watery discharge from beak, & leg paralysis

Question 50

what clinical signs are seen in pigs with salt toxicity?

Answer 50

pruritus, constipation, blind, deaf, & non-responsive

Question 51

what clinical signs are seen in dogs with salt toxicity?

Answer 51

diarrhea & muscle tremors

Question 52

how is salt toxicity diagnosed?

Answer 52

classic history/clinical signs - serum & CSF sodium concentration greater than 160 mEq/L

Question 53

how is salt toxicity treated?

Answer 53

slow access to fresh water to restore normal sodium levels over 2-3 days, & if using iv fluids, decrease serum sodium concentrations at 0.5-1mEq/L/hr

Question 54

what is the pathophysiology of salt toxicity?

Answer 54

gi irritation & cerebral edema

Question 55

T/F: the mortality rate of salt toxicosis is 50% even with treatment

Answer 55

TRUE

Question 56

what can you give a dog with salt toxicosis with no clinical signs but known ingestion?

Answer 56

emetics

Question 57

how is salt toxicity mainly prevented?

Answer 57

make sure animals have access to fresh water

Question 58

what animals are most often affected by iron toxicity?

Answer 58

newborn pigs

Question 59

what body systems are affected by iron toxicity?

Answer 59

cardiovascular system, immune system, & calcium homeostasis

Question 60

what acute clinical signs are seen with iron toxicity?

Answer 60

muscle damage at the injection site causes hyperkalemia, bradyarrhythmias, muscle tremors, convulsions, & death can occur 30 minutes to a few hours after injection

Question 61

what subacute clinical signs are seen with iron toxicity?

Answer 61

iron overwhelms phagocytes leading to infection & death 2-4 days after injection

Question 62

what can occur days after iron injections in newborn pigs? what happens?

Answer 62

calciphylaxis can occur - iron mobilizes calcium that causes a hard swelling at the injection site & leads to death

Question 63

how is iron toxicity diagnosed?

Answer 63

history of iron injection

Question 64

how is iron toxicity prevented?

Answer 64

supplement late gestation sows wwith vitamin e & selenium

Question 65

T/F: iron toxicity may affect the whole litter of piglets or may be sporadic

Answer 65

TRUE