Poisons: general information:

[mikey]

Lupine poisoning
6001
Etiology
Seeds are the part of the plant that are the greatest problem.

Symptoms

The first symptoms will occur about one hour after consumption. Breathing will be heavy and labored. The animal will become depressed, then comatose with snoring. Cattle that eat lupines while pregnant frequently deliver calves with skeletal defects; the effect on pregnant goats may not be as well documented.

Treatment

Correction of acid base disturbance (pH).

Prevention

All lupines should be eliminated from pastures. If it is unreasonable to do so, make sure that pregnant animals are removed from pastures containing lupines, especially during the first tri-mester.

Comments

Lupine poisoning is a separate entity from lupinosis, a disease caused by fungus organisms which grow on lupine plants and produce toxic substances..

[mikey]

Nitrate and nitrite poisoning
6681

12/30/01P>

Etiology
From ingestion of nitrate fertilizers or rapidly growing pasture grasses and some weeds. Nitrates and nitrites are converted to dangerous ammonia in rumen.

Symptoms

Rapidly worsening shortness of breath, weak rapid pulse, nervousness, weakness, incoordination, cyanosis, convulsions and death. May abort. Chocolate brown blood.

Treatment

Contact vet for special medicines.

Prevention

Keep animals away from fertilizers. Watch ryegrass pastures and other special crops.

Comments

Sodium nitrite additives in cat food can cause seizures. Nitrites added to human food can cause severe problems in some people.

[mikey]

Organophosphate poisoning
6701


Etiology
Any of the following insecticides: Malathion, Ronnel, Coumaphos, Diazinon, Trichlofon, Ciodrin, Dichlorvos, Ruelene.

Symptoms

Salivation, frequent urination, diarrhea, colic, shortness of breath, nervousness, incoordination, apprehension, abdominal pain, seizures.

Treatment

Keep animal calm and get to vet right away.

Prevention

Always carefully follow label instructions when using this type of insecticide.

Comments

We have used malathion, according to label instructions, for treatment and prevention of lice in our goat herd. Some of the other products listed above probably should not be used on goats. Residue can appear in the milk. Use of nearly all insecticides is NOT recommended in young animals. Be very reluctant to use certain "pour-on" on goats.

[mikey]

Poisonous Plants
6001

12/30/01

This is a list of symptoms which can indicate plant poisoning. It would be impossible to enumerate the specific symptoms for each of the plants listed below. Whenever any of these symptoms is observed, one should at least consider plant poisoning as a possible cause. [Scroll down for a list of poisonous plants.]


Abortion and congenital malformation
Anorexia
Blind babies
Blisters or scabs on white areas
Bloat
Blue mucosa
Breathing, shallow
Chews on anything
Collapse
Coma
Constant movement of jaws and lips
Convulsions
Coughing
Depressed sexual activity
Depression
Diarrhea
Excessive salivation
Excessive tears
Eyes cloudy and watery
Green froth at mouth
Heartbeat, irregular
Incoordination
Itching of white areas
Jaundice
Lacrimation
Muscular tremors
Nasal discharge
Nervous
Paralysis
Photosensitization
Prostration, unable to stand
Pulse rapid and weak
Pupils dilated
Rapid emaciation
Respiration, rapid or labored
Restless
Sloughing of non-pigmented skin
Sore mouth
Spasms
Staggering
Stilted gait when exercised
Stumbling
Swelling of head, face, ears
Thirst
Tumbling
Twitching
Twitching neck muscles
Vomiting
Weak babies
Weakness
Yellow nasal discharge

List of poisonous (or toxic) plants:

Air plant
Airplane plant
Angelwings
Arrowgrass
Azalea
Bitterweed
Black laurel
Caladium
Choke cherry
Cocklebur
Colorado rubberweed
Copper weed
Cress
Cyclamen
Daffodils
Death camas
Delphinium Ferns
Fitweed
Foxglove
Foxtail (injuries)
Goldenrod
Greasewood
Groundsel
Halogeton
Heavenly bamboo
Henbane
Holly
Horse tail
Horsebrush
Hyacinths
Jack in the pulpit
Jerusalem cherry
Jimson weed
Johnson grass
Kalanchoe
Larkspur
Locoweed
Lupine
Milkvetch
Milkweed (Asclepias spp)
Mistletoe
Mountain laurel
Nandina
Nightshade
Oaks
Oleander
Paper flower
Peaches
Philodendron
Poinsettia
Poison hemlock
Poison vetch
Pokeweed
Prunus ssp (Cherry, peach)
Puncture vine
Ragwort
Red maple
Rhododendron
Rhubarb (leaves)
Sacahuiste
Seassum
Senecio
Shooting star
Skunk cabbage
Snake plant
Sneezeweed
Sorghum
Spider plant
Spotted hemlock
Spring parsley
St. Johnswort
Sudan
Sweet clover
Swellhead
Tall fescue
Tarweed
Veratum
Water hemlock
Western yellow pine
White snakeroot
Wild cherries
Wild coffee
Yew

[mikey]

Salt Poisoning
6201

Etiology
Excess consumption of salt usually accompanies water deprivation and frequently follows salt deprivation.

Symptoms

Mild to acute gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, dehydration, nervous, respiration is rapid and shallow, urine frequent or large amount, ataxia (incoordination), blindness, weakness, sudden death, muscle contractions, prostration, pulse rapid, normal temperature, trembles, thirsty, unexplained deaths.

Treatment

Small amounts of water at frequent intervals (by stomach tube if necessary).

Prevention

Always have salt and water available to the animals. If you happen to notice that they haven’t had salt for some time, re-introduce salt gradually.

[mikey]

Selenium poisoning
6821

12/30/01


Etiology
While we generally hear of the need to supplement normal diets with selenium ("white muscle disease"), there is an equal danger from the ingestion of too much selenium. This can be from soils and plants in certain geographical. Some plants can also cause acute selenium poisoning in any circumstance. This complex problem cannot be addressed in detail here.

Symptoms

Acute poisoning can lead to death in a few hours. Labored respiration, frothing from nostrils, dilated pupils, loss of hair from tail, sloughing of hooves, elevated temperature, unsteady gait. Chronic "blind staggers" type: wander into objects, impaired vision, poor appetite, throat and tongue paralyzed, subnormal temperature, respiratory failure, death. Chronid "alkali dusease" type: problems with joints, liver, heart, anemia, enlarged abdomen, crackling and/or deformity of hooves, lameness, dull, loss of hair. A "garlicky" odor of the breath is usually present in any type of selenium toxicity.

Treatment

Consult vet for blood level evaluation and therapeutic measures.

Prevention

Because this problem is so much of a local issue, consultation with your local extension agent can be very helpful.

Comments

Use selenium enhanced salt only when advised by local vet or extension agent. Withdraw immediately if any of the above symptoms occur and re-evaluate situation.

[mikey]

Nonprotein nitrogen (urea) protein
6686


Etiology
It is a common assumption that goats should not be fed a diet which contains urea as a nitrogen source. Most concentrates labeled for goats are now formulated with "natural" protein. Rapid change to diets containing urea is particularly dangerous. The details of the toxic process are beyond the scope of this web page.

Symptoms

Tremors, protruding eyes, frothy salivation, frequent urination, shortness of breath, tremors, struggling, possible violent behavior.

Treatment

Ruminal infusion of acetic acid and ice water; rumen innoculants; fluids as required. Help from vet may be in order.

Prevention

Read feed labels carefully. Avoid any containing urea or ammonia compounds. Ask about any ingredients that are not easily understood.

Comments

For some time, urea was a common ingredient in concentrates intended for cattle. Therefore, goat raisers automatically shied away from all cattle feeds, which are generally quite a bit cheaper than goat formulations. But there is now a trend to use "natural" proteins in cattle feeds as well and considerable savings can be found in judicial use of cattle mixes, either blended with goat feed or used as is for bucks, non-producing does, yearlings, etc.

[mikey]

Miscellaneous poisons
6000

12/30/01


Here are some miscellaneous toxic substances not covered on individual pages
POISON SYMPTOMS TREATMENT
Antifreeze [6379] Act intoxicated, thirsty, rapid heart and breathing, then depression, coma and death. If mild: gastroenteritis and loss of appetite. May have hypothermia and abdominal pain. Immediate vet care
Carbamate insecticides (Sevin) [6475] Hypersalivation, GI problems (cramps, diarrhea), sweating, shortness of breath, cyanosis, tremors, convulsions, bronchial constriction. (Not usually a problem if applied properly - 2%) Atropine sulfate. Vet
Cottonseed [6310] Heart failure and death, dyspnea, froth-filled trachea, weight loss, weakness, anorexia, gastroenteritis, hemoglobinuria, reproductive problems Remove cottonseed feed products, eliminate stress
Cyanide [6336] Excitement, rapid respiration, dyspnea, rapid heart rate, salivation, lacrimation, voiding of urine and feces, stagger, muscle contractions, mucous membranes bright red, blood may not clot Avoid poisonous plants, may survive if get immediate vet help
Death camas [6376] Salivation, vomiting, staggering, prostration, coma, death See vet
Fluoride [6381] Abnormal hoof growth, lameness, bone spurs, skin dry with horny cracks, teeth mottled (red-brown) None; usually a chronic condition
Fusarium (moldy fescue) [6401] Loss of appetite and milk production, diarrhea, staggers (Not same as "fescue lameness") Eliminate moldy fescue
Gossypol [6411] From cottonseed. Heart failure, shortness of breath, weight loss, weakness, depression, gastroenterisits, reproductive problems Don't feed cottonseed products to young. See vet
Halogenated cyclic hydrocarbons (PCB, dioxin) [6416] Wasting; disorders of skin, reproduction, endocrine system; depression, carcinomas None
Henbane (Jimson) [6421] Unsteady gait, cramps, convulsions, unconsciousness, difficult breathing, rapid pulse None
Herbicide [6451] Sudden death with rapid rigor mortis, diarrhea, rapid pulse and breathing, yellow stain of skin and hair, weakness, drooling, shortness of breath, weakness, muscle contractions, tremors, convulsions 2-4 D is non-toxic if properly applied. Don't use chlorates, dinitros or arsenates.
Insect repellents [6473] Unknown Some, such as deet, may be toxic
Iron [6480] Can cause immediate death; affects heart Do not use injectable iron on goats unless upon advice from vet; give Vit E first
Isopropyl alcohol [6482] GI pain, dizziness, coma, death, dehydration, hard on kidneys and liver Emitics, gastric lavage. Call vet. Being used less now.
Johnson grass [6485] Contains prussic acid. Slobbering, shortness of breath, rapid respiration, rapid weak pulse, convulsions, rapid death Eliminate from feed
Larkspur [6501] Falling, straddling stance, rapid pulse and respiration, constipation, bloating Immediate vet
Lime sulfur (fungicide) [6521] Discomfort and/or blistering. Rarely a problem if applied properly Wash and apply ointments
Locoweed [6451] Abnormal behavior, unsteady gait if stressed, tremors; early to mid-term abortions, congenital defects, light birth weights, abdominal distention in late pregnancy (hydrops) None; limit access to 2 - 4 weeks
Mercury [6561] Vomiting, bloody diarrhea, severe kidney and GI damage, large OR small amounts of urine, head pressing, paralysis, arched back, stomatitis Immediately to vet
Metaldehyde [6570] Hypersensitivity, tremors, incoordination, convulsions, salivation shortness of breath, rapid pulse, fever Snail and slug bait; Immediately to vet
Methanol [6574] Vomit, pain, hyperexcitability, convulsions, arched back, head held back, fixed pupils Unknown
Milkweed [6581] Bloating, pulse rapid and weak, rapid respiration, spasms, staggering, weakness, weight loss, coma, death. Usually only ingest if drought or overgrazing. See vet
Molybdenum [6601] Profuse diarrhea with secondary copper deficiency; also lameness, abnormal gait, anemia, emaciation, joint pain, bone problems, fading of hair color, reproductive failures Correct pasture and feed ratios; make sure copper is in salt
Mycotic lupinosis (moldy lupine) [6621] Lazy, loss of appetite, constipation, rumen stasis, yellowing of skin, stupor, death Watch for "blood spot" fungi on pasture litter after rains. Usually fatal. Blue lupines mostly resisant
Mycotoxicosis [6641] Mold on any feed: especially fescue, corn, lupine, ryegrass, clover. Can be fatal. Anorexia, incoordination, loss of condition, retarded growth Remove feed source. NEVER use moldy feed
Nicotine sulfate [6476] Tremors, inco-ordination, disturbed respiration, coma, death Do NOT use around animals. Immediate vet.
Nightshade [6661] Looks like tomato plant; in late summer may be only thing green; apathy, drowsiness, salivation, shortness of breath, weakness, paralysis Unknown; remove all plants
Oak [6691] Anorexia, constipation, dry muzzle, black feces or diarrhea with blood and mucous, frequent urination, rapid pulse, emaciation, nasal discharge, thirst, increased urinary output, death Remove from oaks, treat symptoms
Paspalum staggers [6721] Fungus affects seed heads of grasses; trembling, incoordination, fall down, eventual paralysis Remove to unaffected feed
Penta [6731] Nervous, rapid pulse and respiration, weakness, muscle tremors, fever, convulsions Cool the animal, remove from source, fluids; contact vet
Petroleum products [6741] Aspiration pneumonia, anorexia, depression, wasting, rumen stops functioning, excited, drying and crackling of skin, shivering, tremors, incoordination, shortness of breath, death. Release boat, if present. Broad spectrum antibiotics. Wash skin if external.
Pine, Western yellow [6751] Abort if consumed in late pregnancy Remove from species which cause problems
Poison hemlock [6766] Loss of appetite, bloat, drooling, feeble pulse, paralysis, nervousness, convulsions, rapid death Stimulants; contact vet
Prunus spp (cherries, peaches, etc) [6781] Slobbering, rapid pulse and respiration, convulsions, shortness of breath, death Remove from source; be careful of "browse" provided
Pyrethroids [6476] Rarely toxic, may cause allergic reactions. Hypersalivation, diarrhea, hypothermia, tremors, shortness of breath, seizures. Contact vet
Red clover [6792] Extreme salivation ("slobbers"), diarrhea, occasional death. Recover when removed from source. Watch for ALL blackened legumes in hay
Senecio [6841] Chronic poisoning from ragwort, tarweed, etc. Loss of condition, constipation or diarrhea, swollen belly, yellow skin, awkward wandering, press against objects Rarely recover, see vet
Sorghum/sudan grass[6861] After lengthy grazing; posterior incoordination, urinary incontinance, evetual paralysis, fetal deformities Contact vet
St Johnswort [6871] Photosensitization of area of white skin, itching, blindness, convulsions, death Remove animals from area
Strychnine [6866] Seizures, apprehension, stiffness, pupils dilated, cyanotic, death Immediately remove stomach contents, keep calm, to vet.
Sweet clover [6921] Stiffness, lameness, hemotomas, GI bleeding, death from faulty blood coagulation Vet. Be real careful of clover hay
Vetch [6961] Weakness, trembling, incoordination, paralysis Use caution if feeding vetches
Warfarin [6801] Hemorrhage, anemia, melena, weakneess, incoordination, anorexia, digestive symptoms Vitamin K; prevention is easier


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