Toxicology

When cyanobacteria oxygenated Earth’s atmosphere over 2 billion years ago they helped create an environment that enabled the evolution of animal life. Today, they produce toxins that are lethal to dogs.

Marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and hallucinogenic mushrooms are five of the most common illicit drugs companion animals are exposed to. Here is everything you need to know about them.

Companion animals are susceptible to several potentially life-threatening toxicants, ranging from human food and medication to animal medication, common plants, illicit drugs, routine household products, and more. Is your veterinary clinic prepared?

Good veterinary nursing care and rapid identification of new or worsening clinical signs in companion animals are key to successfully managing compost intoxication cases.

An estimated 20 million animals, including more than 130 differing species throughout the food chain, die each year from lead poisoning, according to the Humane Society of the United States. The fundamental treatment for lead toxicity is chelation therapy.

The winter holiday season holds an abundance of dangers for domestic pets that could result in toxicosis. This article focuses on decontamination and treatment for exposures to chocolate, grapes and raisins, and homemade playdough in dogs, as well as plants that can be toxic to both dogs and cats.

Erin Freed, CVT, BAS, offers her insight into effective methods of decontamination in dogs and cats.

Some toxic agents—“interrupts”—require emergency care for even small exposures. Learn how to manage patients that have been exposed to one of these interrupt agents: 5-fluorouracil, zinc phosphide, or hops.

Trazodone is commonly prescribed in human medicine to treat various disorders, such as depression and anxiety, and is sometimes used in pets as well. Here's what to do if an animal is accidentally exposed to toxic amounts of trazodone.

Blister beetles, also known as Spanish fly, contain a toxic substance called cantharidin that can severely injure or kill horses. Learn the signs of cantharidin toxicosis and preventive measures for owners.