Elementary, my dear veterinary toxicologist

"Is it toxic? How toxic?"

Here are some great electronic resources, hand picked by Evans himself. 

General veterinary toxicology electronic resources: 

> Pet poison helpline (note: there are separate tabs for pet owners and veterinarians)

> ASPCA Animal Poison Control for pet owners 

> ASPCA Animal Poison Control for pet professionals

U.S. government websites that provide helpful information for suspected toxications:

> U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Household products database

> FDA Animal & Veterinary site section 

> NCBI PubMed Literature search 

> National Institute of Environmental Sciences: Environmental health

> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency home page

> Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry home page

Useful toxic plant electronic resources: 

> ASPCA: Toxic and non-toxic plants

> Cornell University: Plants toxic to livestock and other animals

> University of Pennsylvania: Toxic plants 

> UIUC: Library, toxic plants database

> Colarado State University: Poisonous plants 

> Erowid: Psychoactive drugs and effects 

> Textbook: Toxic Plants of North America 

Back to basics 

What if that crazy pet owner convinced that their neighbor poisoned Chiquita the Chihuahua wasn't crazy at all? According to Tim Evans, DVM, PhD, DACT, DABVT, all veterinarians should know by their second day of practice that everyone has someone who dislikes them enough to want to seriously harm their pets. Intoxication in small animals is more often than not a balance act of investigating clinical signs to find a cause while treating a patient for the intoxication at the same time, and Evans has provided some bare necessities to help you find the source and treat the animal while you're at it. 

Too many potential causes of a pet's clinical signs? DAMNIT! 

You could be shouting this out for a number of reasons, but when it comes to toxicology, this expletive could really come in handy as a mnemonic device for veterinarians. Each letter stands for disease categories that can help you shorten the sometimes lengthy list of causes indicated by a sometimes equally lengthy list of clinical signs. Evans says to think each letter through thoroughly before moving onto the next one! 

Degenerative/Developmental

Anomalous/Autoimmune 

Metabolic/Mechanical/Mental

Nutritional/Neoplastic

Infectious/Inflammatory

Traumatic/Toxic

Click to the next page for more Sherlock sleuthing techniques. 

Know your ABCs when it comes to patient stabilization 

Regardless of the cause of the intoxication, most cases are often an emergency and require fast action. Removing the animal from the source of the unknown toxicant, otherwise known as “toxicant X,” should be your first step in stabilizing your patient-this could also be the other way around, with your removing “toxicant X” from the patient. Evans says to remember you're treating the patient, not the poison-unless there is dangerous exposure of “toxicant X” observed. After this has all been taken care of, it's time to remember your ABCs.

Airway. Maintaining awareness of obstructions or bronchoconstriction will help ensure that the airway is patent.

Breathing. You must establish normal breathing-make sure you're remaining aware of breathing problems or impaired gas exchange.

Circulation. Correct deficits in circulation. This could be caused by fluid, electrolyte or acid-base imbalances along with various anemias with different etiologies.

Depression. Make sure to correct metabolic disturbances and neurotransmitter imbalances by controlling the depression of the central nervous system.

Excitation. You should control the excitation of the CNS, but do nothing if very mild. You may need to make corrections of electrolyte imbalances and possible glucose deficits. This may also be the time when anticonvulsant medications come into play.

Fever. Avoid using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for toxicant-induced hyperthermia to help bring down a fever.

Hypothermia. Make sure to treat hypothermia properly-no ice water baths! 

Evans Extra: Poisoning should be suspected when: 

> "Toxicant X" is directly observed in vomitus or gastrointestinal tract

> There is a sudden death or similar clinical signs in multiple animals 

> There is rapid onset of afebrile syndrome or sudden death of a previously healthy animal 

> There are signs of an unknown etiology or all other causes have been ruled out 

> The pet has gone through a recent change in diet or location 

Remember: Take the environment that the pet comes from into account

Listen for reports of:

>> Suspicious or illegal activities that occur in the area

>> Evidence of neighborhood or household feuds 

>> The animal being described as as young, mean, noisy, annoying or stupid 

Photo courtesy of Dr. Tim Evans. As the famous Sherlock Holmes says in The Adventure of the Dancing Men, "It is not really difficult to construct a series of inferences, each dependent upon its predecessor and each simple in itself. After doing so, one may produce a startling effect." When it comes to certain toxicology mysteries, we think Evans is inclined to agree with such a mad method. However, as a toxicologist he has to disagree with Holmes' tobacco pipe use. 

Dr. Tim Evans is President of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology, as well as an associate professor of Veterinary Pathobiology at the University of Missouri where he teaches clinical and diagnostic toxicology alongside his alter-ego, The Antidote: The enemy of ALL things toxic.