Commonly Occurring Toxicities In Livestock

Everything is poisonous, if dosage and route of entry into living organism are not restricted. If the animals have access to chemicals, they may ingest them out of curiosity. Man and animals always have been exposed to heavy metals in the environment, Metallic contamination of food and water probably led to the first poisoning.

Animals are frequently exposed to xenobiotics such as agro-chemicals, metallic and non-metallic compounds, mycotoxins and other environmental pollutants, they may cause health hazards to man and animals. Many times heavy metals exert their toxic effects by combining with one or more reactive groups essential for normal
physiological functions, Mortality in animals also causes huge economic loss to the farmers. To sustain and improve the livestock production, it is required to control and prevent the toxicosis well in advance and also to evolve line of their treatment.

Poisoning is an emergency and is to be treated immediately. Until the confirmation, treatment with antidotes cannot be initiated and hence the aim is to neutralize the poison and to maintain the vital functions of body.

Removal of Toxicant and Prevention of Further Absorption

• In case of history of external application, wash the body surface with lukewarm water, and don’t use soap and detergents.
• Gastric lavage is useful in small animals but should not be done in unconscious animals and after ingestion of petroleum products. Isotonic NaCl solution 10 ml/Kg is indicated for giving lavage. In rumenotomy is only satisfactory method to remove toxicants. Endotracheal intubation should be done.
• Emetics: Emesis in dogs, cats and swine can be induced by emetics within 2-3 hours of ingestion. Apomorphine (contraindicated in cats and pigs) – 0.04-0.07 mg/kg i.m. or s.c., Xylazine 1-2 mg/kg i.m can be administered for inducing vomiting. Oral administration of 1 % CuSO4, 10-60 ml in dogs, 3-20 ml in cats and spoonful of Sodium chloride can also be employed. But there is a risk of aspiration pneumonia. Emetics are contraindicated in poisoning with barbiturates, kerosin, petroleum products and in seizures/ convulsive animals.
• For hastening the removal from GI tract, saline purgatives can be used. Mag Sulph or Sod Sulphate- 1.0 gm / kg in dogs and cat; 100-200 gm in large animals can be administered orally. Irritant purgatives, cathartics and oil based purgatives are not used as these may cause dehydration.
• Neutralization of poison: Use of adsorbing agent to prevent further absorption is advocated.

Universal Antidote

• Activated Vegetable Charcoal – 10 g
• MgO – 5 g
• Kaoline – 5 g
• Tannic acid – 5 g
• Water – 200 ml

Use of Specific Antidotes

Treatment with specific antidotes can be given after confirmation of toxicity. Various antidotes available are mentioned in the Table.

Supportive and Symptomatic Therapy

• Symptomatic and supportive treatment helps in counteracting the manifestations of chemical toxicity and to maintain the vital functions of the body.
• Analeptics in barbiturate toxicity, Anticonvulsants and pentobarbital in seizures/ convulsions, Vit K in haemorrhages, Bronchodilators and antihistaminic in anaphylactic shock, Vasopressors in hypotensive crisis are indicated.
• Saline / Ringer saline are administered in cases of dehydration.
• Use of diuretics are advocated to enhance the urinary excretion of toxic chemical. Mannitol as 10% solution can be administered intravenously at dose of 1-2 ml/kg/24 hrs for this purpose.