Summary & Review
Toxin
Key Mechanism
Hallmark Sign
Antidote / Treatment
Key Details
Anticoagulant Rodenticides
Inhibit
Vit K epoxide reductase
Delayed
bleeding (3-5 days)
Vitamin K1
(2.5-5 mg/kg; up to 30 days for 2nd gen)
PT and
aPTT elevated; normal platelets; signs delayed as clotting factors are
consumed; 2nd gen half-life ~20 days
Gossypol
Fe
chelation + dehydrogenase inhibition + mitochondrial damage
Myocardial
necrosis / sudden death in young bulls
Remove
cottonseed; iron supplementation; high-protein diet; Vit A
Lipophilic
and cumulative; young bulls/lambs highest risk; <100 ppm free gossypol
safe for breeding bulls; myocardial fibrosis irreversible
Cantharidin
PP2A
inhibition + mucosal vesication
Hypocalcemia
+ muzzle submerged in water
No
antidote - sucralfate, IV Ca2+/Mg2+, fluids, NSAIDs, antibiotics
6-250
beetles lethal to horses; crimped alfalfa hay; hematuria; mortality up to 50%
Summary & Review
Toxin
Key Mechanism
Hallmark Sign
Antidote / Treatment
Key Details
Methylxanthines
Adenosine
receptor antagonism + Ca2+ dysregulation + phosphodiesterase inhibition
Tachycardia,
hyperactivity, seizures
Repeated
activated charcoal q3h; lidocaine (not cats); diazepam for seizures
Enterohepatic
recirculation; theobromine detectable 3-4 days; baking chocolate most
dangerous; signs up to 72 hrs
Nitrites
Methemoglobin
formation (Fe2+ → Fe3+)
Chocolate-brown
mucous membranes; blood doesn’t redden in air
Methylene
blue IV (not cats/horses - use ascorbic acid)
Rumen
bacteria convert NO3− → NO2−; pregnant cows abort at sublethal doses; aqueous
humor best post-mortem sample; onset 30-60 min
Cardiac Glycosides
Na+/K+
ATPase inhibition → ↑ intracellular Ca2+
Bradycardia
+ hyperkalemia
Digibind;
propranolol; atropine; avoid emesis if cardiac signs
Sources:
foxglove, oleander, lily of the valley; digoxin immunoassay cross-reacts;
resolution within 4 hrs of Digibind
Cyanide
Cytochrome
C oxidase inhibition - halts electron transport
Cherry-red
blood + sudden death (15-20 min)
Sodium
nitrite → sodium thiosulfate → methylene blue if needed; hydroxocobalamin
Wilted
leaves release HCN; dry material not toxic; freeze samples; blood
superoxygenated; wild black cherry, sorghum, white clover
Summary & Review
You've just worked through seven of the most clinically important cardiovascular and hematopoietic toxicoses in veterinary medicine.From the Labrador who got into the Valentine's Day chocolate, to the cattle herd grazing beside a storm-felled cherry tree, to the horse whose new hay bale hid a deadly hitchhiker — these aren't abstract concepts. They are the cases waiting for you.You've done the hard work here. Trust it when it counts.
Download the Summary & Review
Summary & Review
UF College of Veterinary Medicine
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Transcript
Summary & Review
Toxin Key Mechanism Hallmark Sign Antidote / Treatment Key Details Anticoagulant Rodenticides Inhibit Vit K epoxide reductase Delayed bleeding (3-5 days) Vitamin K1 (2.5-5 mg/kg; up to 30 days for 2nd gen) PT and aPTT elevated; normal platelets; signs delayed as clotting factors are consumed; 2nd gen half-life ~20 days Gossypol Fe chelation + dehydrogenase inhibition + mitochondrial damage Myocardial necrosis / sudden death in young bulls Remove cottonseed; iron supplementation; high-protein diet; Vit A Lipophilic and cumulative; young bulls/lambs highest risk; <100 ppm free gossypol safe for breeding bulls; myocardial fibrosis irreversible Cantharidin PP2A inhibition + mucosal vesication Hypocalcemia + muzzle submerged in water No antidote - sucralfate, IV Ca2+/Mg2+, fluids, NSAIDs, antibiotics 6-250 beetles lethal to horses; crimped alfalfa hay; hematuria; mortality up to 50%
Summary & Review
Toxin Key Mechanism Hallmark Sign Antidote / Treatment Key Details Methylxanthines Adenosine receptor antagonism + Ca2+ dysregulation + phosphodiesterase inhibition Tachycardia, hyperactivity, seizures Repeated activated charcoal q3h; lidocaine (not cats); diazepam for seizures Enterohepatic recirculation; theobromine detectable 3-4 days; baking chocolate most dangerous; signs up to 72 hrs Nitrites Methemoglobin formation (Fe2+ → Fe3+) Chocolate-brown mucous membranes; blood doesn’t redden in air Methylene blue IV (not cats/horses - use ascorbic acid) Rumen bacteria convert NO3− → NO2−; pregnant cows abort at sublethal doses; aqueous humor best post-mortem sample; onset 30-60 min Cardiac Glycosides Na+/K+ ATPase inhibition → ↑ intracellular Ca2+ Bradycardia + hyperkalemia Digibind; propranolol; atropine; avoid emesis if cardiac signs Sources: foxglove, oleander, lily of the valley; digoxin immunoassay cross-reacts; resolution within 4 hrs of Digibind Cyanide Cytochrome C oxidase inhibition - halts electron transport Cherry-red blood + sudden death (15-20 min) Sodium nitrite → sodium thiosulfate → methylene blue if needed; hydroxocobalamin Wilted leaves release HCN; dry material not toxic; freeze samples; blood superoxygenated; wild black cherry, sorghum, white clover
Summary & Review
You've just worked through seven of the most clinically important cardiovascular and hematopoietic toxicoses in veterinary medicine.From the Labrador who got into the Valentine's Day chocolate, to the cattle herd grazing beside a storm-felled cherry tree, to the horse whose new hay bale hid a deadly hitchhiker — these aren't abstract concepts. They are the cases waiting for you.You've done the hard work here. Trust it when it counts.
Download the Summary & Review