Poisons: general information:

[mikey]

Acetone Poisoning
6240



Etiology
Acetone is occasionally used as an emulsifier in the preparation of insecticides. Also, it is sometimes used as a solvent for cleaning up following the use of adhesives for flooring, etc. It is commonly known as a primary ingredient in nail polish remover. Acetone toxicity is not to be confused with the metabolic disorder known as acetonemia (ketosis) which typically occurs after a recent delivery or other serious illnesses, but where the urine and/or breath may have an odor resembling that of nail polish remover.

Symptoms

GI irritation, narcosis, kidney and liver damage.

Treatment

Gastric lavage, low fat diet, oxygen. Other symptoms should be treated as need be.

Prevention

Always be careful of insecticides and put all toxic substances in a safe storage area where animals cannot get to them.

CONSULTANT ©   Cornell's Diagnostic program

[mikey]

Algal Poisoning
6251


Etiology
Despite the latest human health food fad of eating blue-green algae, it is highly fatal if ingested by farm animals. It is usually a problem in warm, sunny weather. Simply killing the algae does not eliminate the toxin.

Symptoms

Signs begin to appear 15 to 45 minutes after ingestion and death can occur one to 24 hours later. Symptoms include: icterus (jaundice), abdominal pain, kick at belly, convulsions, cyanosis (blue skin and lips), drooling, excess watery salivation, dyspnea (shortness of breath), bloody feces, gets up and down, muscle contractions, photosensitization, prostration, sudden death, tremors.

Treatment

Activated charcoal and mineral oil. Animals may be very weak; handle with extreme care. Keep victims out of sunlight. Remove animals from infected water. May need glucose and/or calcium. Best to contact your veterinarian. If animal dies, do not use for food.

Prevention

Keep algae out of water sources, tubs, etc. and keep animals out of water that has algae in it, even though it looks fairly harmless.

Comments

Ducks are also very sensitive to blue-green algae. P>

[mikey]

ANTU Poisoning
6261


Etiology
From ingestion of a-Naphthylthiourea, a rodenticide.

Symptoms

Fortunately, ruminants (which includes goats) are resistant. Can be a problem in dogs and other animals.

Treatment

Any poisoned animal should have the help of a licensed veterinarian. Most vet manuals contain treatment protocols but the medicines suggested are best used by a professional.

Prevention

This product is rarely used any more. All poisoned bait products should be used with extreme care and avoided if at all possible. The newer mice traps are quite effective against the smaller mice that are a frequent problem around barns and feed storage areas. If you have a serious problem with rats, it may be best to seek professional help.

Comments

Rodenticides are also a serious problem for your cats. P>

[mikey]

Arsenic Poisoning
6271


Etiology
Rodenticides and insecticides containing arsenic are rarely used now. There is a difference between these inorganic preparations and organic feed additives which are intended to increase productivity and as a treatment for dysentery in pigs.

Symptoms


Inorganic: Watery, bloody diarrhea, dehydration, weakness, abdominal pain, rapid onset.
Organic: Incoordination, paralysis, occasional blindness, alert with good appetite.

Treatment

Dimercaprol and electrolyte. Not a job for the average goat raiser! If accidently given pig feed with arsenic additive, stop feeding that right away.

Prevention

All poisoned bait products should be used with extreme care and avoided if at all possible. The newer mice traps are quite effective against the smaller mice that are a frequent problem around barns and feed storage areas. If you have a serious problem with rats, it may be best to seek professional help.

Do not feed pig feed to any other farm animal.

Comments

One would need a very good reason (and I can’t think of any) to use any product containing arsenic. P>

[mikey]

Blister Beetle Poison
6275


Etiology
From ingestion of cantharidin which is found in blister beetles which may be in alfalfa.

Symptoms

Colic, salivation, shock, ulcers in mouth and GI mucosa.

Treatment

Mineral oil. Specific lab tests are required to confirm diagnosis, so it is best to consult your vet who may prescribe fluid therapy and analgesics.

Prevention

Observation of hay and other feed sources is always important.

Comments

Mostly in central and SW United States. P>

[mikey]

Bracken Fern Poisoning
6026

12/30/01


Etiology
Bracken fern is rather common in some areas. It can be consumed directly by animals or accidently baled into hay. Signs of toxicity may take some time to develop. It is more commonly documented in cattle and sheep.

Symptoms

Hemorrhages resembling anthrax in cattle, "bright blindness" in sheep that can be confused with pregnancy toxemia, pinkeye or cataracts. There can be weakness, fever. Symptoms in goats have not been described. (Additional symptoms in sheep include: unsteady gait, loss of appetite, constipation, nervousness, congestion of the eyes, followed by spreading apart of the legs, extreme nervousness and loss of muscular control; the head may be held forward and up; the pupils don’t respond to light.)

Treatment

Antibiotics and blood transfusions. Successful cure is rare.

Prevention

Usually animals will only consume ferns when other feed is not available. Symptoms or death don’t usually appear for 2 or 3 weeks after consumption, so it is often hard to make the connection. Bracken fern plants should be eliminated or avoided. When cutting hay, watch for the plants, especially around the edges of established fields.

Comments

Nearly all the studies on the effects of bracken fern consumption have been on sheep and cattle. Anyone knowing of the effects on goats can contact me by e-mail below.

[mikey]

Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
6286


Etiology
A class of insecticides commonly used in agriculture, although its use is generally diminishing. Lindane is a common ingredient in screwworm medications and Methoxychlor is in many fly preparations (cattle dusts). Chlordane is no longer approved in most situations and is highly toxic.

Symptoms

Alertness, twitching (from front to back), head may hang, chewing, belligerent, excess salivation, trembling, convulsions, death.

Treatment

If ingested: gastric lavage. If on skin: thorough bathing. Replenish fluids. A visit to the vet would be highly recommended.

Prevention

We have used cow/calf fly dusts on goats with no apparent problems, but I can find no references to studies of toxicity in goats; thus, fly powders should be used with extreme caution. Generally, flies are not a problem in goats. During severe fly season when the danger of maggot or other larvae infestation is a genuine risk and there has been a serious injury or surgical procedure, we have guardedly used lindane preparations as a preventative measure. Only small amounts in very restricted areas should be used. As soon as the wound is healed, the area can be cleansed thoroughly. Maggots can make a disgusting mess of a wound in very little time and are much harder to get rid of than to prevent.

[mikey]

Coal tar poison
6291


Etiology
This is from ingestion of coal tar products: cresol, creosote, pitch as found in tar paper, treated wood, disinfectants, etc.

Symptoms

Death may be the first symptom. Otherwise, signs may be those typical of chronic liver disease: icterus (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes), ascites (abdominal swelling), anemia.

Treatment

None.

Prevention

Don’t let animals consume treated wood. Be careful about what happens to scraps of tar paper left over from building projects. Old buildings should be removed if they are in a state of collapse or severe disrepair where animals have access to tar paper from walls or roofs. Clay pigeons (which may contain tar) should always be removed.

Comments

An alertness to whatever animals can chew on is absolutely essential.

[mikey]

Common crowfoot poisoning
6292


Etiology
A poisonous plant of the buttercup family.

Symptoms

Gastric enteritis, diarrhea, black foul-smelling feces, nervous, difficult respiration, slow chewing of cud, jerky movements of lips and ears, convulsions and death follow in a few hours.

Treatment

Unknown

Prevention

Eliminate plant.

[mikey]

Copper Poisoning
6126


Etiology
Much more common in sheep. Dietary level in goats needs to be higher, similar to cattle. Can be poisoned by ingesting foot rot treatments which contain copper.

Symptoms

Dullness, abdominal pain, salivation, bluish-green feces, anorexia, dehydration, shock, fainting, jaundice, hemoglobinuria. By the time that symptoms develop, it may be too late to begin treatment.

Treatment

See your vet right away if you suspect copper poisoning. Special drugs are necessary for treatment.

Prevention

Goats can safely be given cattle trace mineral blocks which contain a moderate amount of copper. If fed sheep salt, goats may become deficient. Generally, the only danger of copper poisoning in goats is from incorrectly mixed special feeds or incorrectly used drugs which contain copper products.

Comments

If there is a feeling that an animal has died from copper poisoning (or deficiency), the liver can be tested by a lab if taken to or removed by your vet.

[mikey]

Herbicide poisoning
6451
Note:  About half the people who are starting out with goats have obtained them for the purpose of "clearing brush." There may be some irony then in have a page on herbicide use. Generally, we see little need for killing plants when you have goats around, but here is some basic information that you may find useful. There are new herbicides coming to market almost daily it seems; most of these are much safer than the old ones. We encourage you to read the labels very carefully for these will usually contain information regarding toxicity and warnings about use around animals. Because of liability issues, we are reluctant to recommend for or against any specific brand names. These matters are addressed in some of the articles to which you can find links below. Read them carefully.
Symptoms:

The following is a rather exhaustive list of the symptoms that CAN occur as the result of herbicide poisoning. It would not be expected that they would occur all at once. The most common ones are in BOLD type.


Diarrhea
Acidosis
Fever
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Rapid respiration
Tachycardia (rapid pulse)

Corneal opacity, cataracts

Salivation
Irritation of oral mucosa

Skin irritation
Yellowing of skin around mouth
Yellowing of hair around nose and feet

Loss of weight
Loss of appetite
Depression
Rapid prostration

Muscle weakness, especially in hind quarters
Muscle tremors
Nervousness, restlessness, tenseness
Clonic convulsions and death
Coma, sudden death with rapid rigor mortis


Other diseases to consider:

Difficulty rating:   [bold type applies]

DEFINITELY a matter for your veterinarian
Do these things until you can reach the vet
You may be able to handle it youself; for the moderately experienced
Fairly simple; give it a try!

Treatment options:

Treatment measures are specific to each chemical used. At proper application levels of the newer herbicides (glyphosate, 2,4-D) most vegetation will not contain enough residue to be harmful to livestock. If contact with the skin is a concern or if skin irritation should occur, the animal should be bathed. Activated charcoal preparations can be administered orally. If the symptoms appear as the result of some of the older and more dangerous herbicides such as arsenicals, carbamates, dinitro and dipyridyl compounds, chlorates, immediate help from your veterinarian would be recommended.

[mikey]

Corn toxicosis
6301


Etiology
Results from eating moldy corn. Symptoms occur 8 - 12 hours after ingesting.

Symptoms

Respiratory complaints that don’t respond to antibiotics, icterus, weakness, anorexia, unthriftiness. Kidney and liver damage.

Treatment

None. But some live through it.

Prevention

Always watch carefully for moldy feed and throw it out, without exception.

Comments

See Aflatoxicosis and other molds and fungi.

[mikey]

Iodine Poisoning
6176


Etiology
Usually the result of overdosing an iodine preparation (e.g. sodium iodide). Possibly from licking tincture of iodine from wound treatment.

Symptoms

Lacrimation (flow of tears), runny nose, loss of appetite, skin problems, drooling, excess watery salivation.

Treatment

Reduce dose of drugs containing iodine.

Prevention

Be careful in using iodine in any form, especially with young animals. Whenever you have runny eyes with no other known cause, suspect iodine poisoning.

Comments

The problem is usually quickly solved with removing of the source. P>

[mikey]

Kale Poisoning
6051


Etiology
Kale is a commonly grown garden vegetable. However it can be poisonous if consumed by ruminants.

Symptoms

There will be a rapid loss of condition and anemia. Other symptoms include hemoglobinuria (blood in urine), temperature to 105°F, jaundice. The blood may be thin and watery.

Treatment

Injections of Vitamin B-12 and iron are recommended. (I would suggest consulting with a vet before giving iron injections.)

Prevention

Simply, never give kale to ruminants. They can consume limited amounts of if without any trouble; but why take the chance?

Comments

Iron injections can have disastrous results. It would be best to discuss this issue with your vet.

[mikey]

Lead Poisoning
6151


Etiology
Sources of lead poisoning include paint (the obvious and most common cause, especially in baby goats), old batteries, used motor oil, grease, shot.

Symptoms

Lead poisoning is an extremely critical situation. The animal will appear to be dramatically ill 2 or 3 days following ingestion with extreme nervousness, possible blindness, snapping of eyelids, odd convulsive movements of limbs, tremors, pushing against objects, grinding of teeth, rapid respiration. There may be constipation or diarrhea.

Treatment

Get help from your vet at once. If not available, can try: gastric lavage, Epsom salts drench, IV calcium (as in milk fever treatment). Unfortunately, treatment is rarely of any value.

Prevention

The usual situation is where baby goats are put in a temporary pen made of old boards that are covered with lead-based paint. It doesn’t take much chewing on the boards to have some very dead kids. Basically, don’t allow any animals near any painted surface unless you know for sure that the paint does not contain lead (which is no longer used to make paint).

Comments

Lead poisoning is a terrible way to die. Always be alert to any painted surfaces and any of the other sources mentioned above. If bringing in animals for the first time, go over your place carefully. If you are uncertain about the ingredients in any painted materials, remove and replace them right away. P>