Toxicology

When it comes to old wives tales, veterinary medicine has some doozies about what household items can hurt and help pets. No one know this better than a veterinary toxicologist who works at the Animal Poison Control Center.

A key to diagnosing zinc toxicosis is understanding what adverse affects it can cause in the body.

Quiz: Holiday myths debunked (8-Fact)

Pet-safe people food

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Room-by-room look at poison proofing.

Provide this handout to your clients so they'll know what to do if they suspect their pet has injested or been exposed to a poisonous substance.

Bromethalin is one of the lesser known rodenticides on the market, and poisoning in dogs and cats is most likely underreported.

There have been numerous cases of dogs developing polyuric, oliguric or anuric renal failure within 12-72 hours of ingesting grapes and raisins.

The term mycotoxin generally refers to secondary metabolites of molds growing on foodstuffs, and the synthesis of many mycotoxins is genetically controlled.

Ingestion of paintballs has been associated with severe and potentially life-threatening acid/base and electrolyte abnormalities [most commonly hypernatremia] leading to ataxia, blindness, tremors, seizures and death.

A fungus [plural: fungi] is a plant-like organism that lacks chlorophyll and is usually non-mobile, filamentous and multicellular.

The establishment of a toxicologic diagnosis requires the same approach as that for any non-toxicologic diagnosis: obtaining a comprehensive history, establishing a minimum database, collection of appropriate samples for analysis and correct interpretation of laboratory results.

National Report — About 100 dogs perished due to aflatoxin poisoning, a naturally occurring toxic chemical byproduct from the growth of the fungus Aspergillus flavus on corn and other crops, according to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

URBANA, ILL.-Open medications and household pesticides remain the most-common reasons for pet bird poisonings, according to a report from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

Cleveland -The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center rebuts rumors that Swiffer WetJet is toxic to pets that come in contact with recently cleaned floors.

Gainesville, Fla.-The University of Florida (UF) is offering a "first-of-its-kind", distance learning program in forensic toxicology.