Veterinary Taxicology

COMMON CAUSES OF POISONING

• The materials causing intoxication in animals may be naturally occurring or man-made.
  • Naturally-occurring - These are either inorganic materials or minerals, plants and the products of moulds, venomous snakes, toads and insects. The inorganic materials include fluoride, nitrates, copper, molybdenum, selenium and lead.
  • Man-made hazards – Man made hazards may cause accidental, malicious or intentional and occupational poisoning. The agents of interest include industrial products or by-products, domestic materials, pharmaceutical preparations and feed additives.
• Industrial materials
  • Proximity of industrial and agricultural operations in association with inadequate control of emissions. The harmful agents, which may be involved, include inorganic materials arsenic, lead, molybdenum, fluoride, cadmium, mercury, copper and chromium and the organic substances ethanol, cyanide and fluoroacetamide. Discharge of sulphur dioxide and acid rain, accidental discharge of radioactive material and the disposal of radioactive material and industrial waste chemicals.
• Domestic materials
  • Lead in roofing felt, linoleum, piping, paint, accumulators, used engine oil, golf balls, fishing weights and shot, phenolic materials in bituminous floor coverings, discarded clay pigeons, creosote and disinfectants, toxic plants incorporated into or used as bedding, house plants, gases such as ammonia, carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulphide, fuel oils, herbicides and human medicaments.
• Pesticides
  • This includes herbicides, fungicides, molluscicides, insecticides and rodenticides.
• Medicaments
  • Misuse or over dosage of pharmaceutical material can produce intoxication.
• Dietary constituents
  • Inadequate cooking or poor storage of diets or their constituents, addition of excessive quantities or inadequate mixing of the recommended quantities of preservatives or growth-promoter feed additives, and either the incorporation of toxic materials into the diet or their use in feedstuffs.