Differentiating Between Medical Conditions and Toxins

Ken Drobatz, DVM, MSCE, DACVIM, DACVECC, professor of critical care at the University of Pennsylvania, says a lot of toxins can look like medical conditions, and a lot of medical conditions can look like toxins when it comes to your veterinary patients.

He says one of the best things available is animal poison control, because they can give you a step-by-step approach on how to manage potential toxins. There's a stepwise approach when it comes to dealing with toxins, which includes eliminating further absorption and treating the possibility of a toxin. Just about any medical condition can look like a toxin, so it's always important to keep an open mind of the possibility that a toxin is present.