VPT 421: Veterinary Toxicology (2+0)

CLINICAL SYMPTOMS AND PM LESIONS

Clinical signs

• Sometimes affected animal is found dead and sometimes the onset is slightly delayed.
• The animal quickly dies after manifesting weakness, dyspnoea, severe colic and terminal toxic convulsions.
• In some instances the onset of signs takes several hours and a range of clinical symptoms are seen.
• Behavioural abnormalities like restlessness and dullness initially, later signs of excitation, head pressing, abnormal posturing, jumping over unseen objects and maniacal behaviour.
• Nervous phenomena like initial hyperaesthesia, tremors, twitching and spasm of muscles beginning from eyelids and proceeding towards the tail are noticed.
• Autonomic manifestations include salivation, bradycardia, hypertension and severe colic.
• Gastrointestinal signs include rumen atony, bloat, teeth grinding, groaning, kicking at the abdomen and other evidence of colic. Terminally ill animals may regurgitate and aspirate the rumen contents.
• Locomotor disturbances like initial in-coordination and later staggering and stumbling prior to collapse.

Post mortem lesions

• No characteristic lesions are noticed in urea poisoning. Mild pulmonary edema with lung congestion and petichiae are also noticed.
• Animals bloat rapidly and the carcasses decompose more rapidly.