VPT 421: Veterinary Toxicology (2+0)

INTRODUCTION

• In veterinary medicine, the greatest potential for acute radiation damage lies in accidents releasing the contents of nuclear reactors, radiation cancer therapy used most commonly for dog mammary tumors or a gross miscalculation of irradiation dose needed for diagnostic imaging.
• Radiation fatalities at the highest dose can affect the CNS, possibly by damaging the BBB.
• At a lower dose they can damage intestinal epithelium with rapid turnover, causing the GI syndrome and at a still lower level that can damage blood cells causing the hematologic syndrome.