VPT 421: Veterinary Toxicology (2+0)

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis is based on the level of mercury in the renal cortex, brain and liver.
• Differential diagnosis: Mercury poisoning should be differentiated from lead, thallium and ethylene glycol poisoning, encephalitis, poliencephalomalacia and hog cholera erysipelas.

Treatment

• Treatment includes administration of egg white, activated charcoal, sodium thiosulphate (to bind mercury), saline cathartic and oral d-penicillamine.
• D-penicillamine is useful only if the gut is free of significant ingested mercury and only if the renal function is proper.
• BAL is not very effective after chronic exposure to organic mercurials.