• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Toxin Tails honors drug detection dogs

September 8, 2022
dvm360 Staff

The Pet Poison Helpline sheds light on the risks that detection dogs face daily in honor of National Service Dog Month

When it comes to investigating and arresting individuals suspected of buying or selling drugs, police forces will enlist the help of detection dogs. Although the canines can be crucial to keeping communities safe, the risks these canines face became real for one detection dog in Pasco, Washington.

"September is National Service Dog Month. In addition to recognizing the critical work traditional service dogs do for their humans, we want to highlight the dangers faced by our nation's heroic public service animals, like police detection canines," said Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline, in an organizational release.1

"Pet Poison Helpline assists service animals that work as detection dogs with police departments, and we advise on the cases at no charge. These dogs, and their handlers, are trained to prevent accidental inhalation or ingestion of illicit drugs, however, there are some accidental exposures that do occur."

Bear was conducting a property search when he happened to ingest what officials determined to be methamphetamine with a suspicion that he also ingested other unnamed dangerous materials. Bear began to show drug-related symptoms such as severe agitation, restlessness, hyperthermia, and pacing.

To counteract the narcotics, an officer injected Bear with Narcan (naloxone), but this seemed to have no effect on Bear. He was brought to Mid-Columbia Pet Emergency, where the treating veterinarian called the Pet Poison Helpline.

Advertisement

"The described signs fit more with methamphetamine, cocaine, or both, and less with opiates such as fentanyl, heroin, and others," explained Schmid. "Opiates and derivatives would be expected to lead to profound sedation with hypotension and bradycardia, which respond well to Narcan. Given the poor response to the Narcan, and the opposite clinical profile, a stimulant like methamphetamine was more likely."

According to the release,1 Bear was placed on IV fluids, administered medication to sedate him, and received round-the-clock nursing care with toxicologists recommending the team use beta blockers, cooling measures, and anticonvulsants as well. Because of the care Bear received from the medical staff, he was released from the hospital 2 days after he was admitted.

"Nearly half of all calls received by Pet Poison Helpline involve human medications, but fortunately pet owners often know what their pets ingested," concluded Schmid. "With police service dogs, the officers may know what they're looking for, but they never know what the search dog is going to find. It makes treating these exposed animals even more challenging."

Reference

Crack is Whack, Especially for Drug Detection Dogs. News release. Pet Poison Helpline. September 1, 2022. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crack-is-whack-especially-for-drug-detection-dogs-301615840.html


Advertisement

Latest News

An update on copper concerns in pet foods

Dental hacks to make every case more manageable

Q&A with a keynote: Walter Brown, RVTg, VTS, ECC

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus dvm360® launches its first CE podcast

View More Latest News
Advertisement