Page 71 - Veterinary Toxicology, Basic and Clinical Principles, 3rd Edition

38 SECTION | I General

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January February March April May June July August September October November December

FIGURE 2.1 Monthly distribution of cases managed by ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in 2010 (unpublished data).
growth of toxic blue-green algae in ponds, lakes, and other Giuliano Albo and Nebbia, 2004; McLean and Hansen,
water sources. Other seasonal influences on the incidence 2010). Approximately 2% 10% of reported animal poi-
of animal exposures to toxicants include increased pres- soning cases involved other species of domesticated ani-
ence of rodenticides in late fall as rodents begin to move mals, exotic animals and wildlife, with horses and birds
indoors in response to cooling temperatures, increased use following dogs and cats as the third and fourth most com-
of psoriasis medication (e.g., calcipotriene) during winter mon species. The distribution of species involved in poi-
months, increased use of ice-melting agents in winter, sonings has changed considerably since 1983, when dogs
increased presence of lilies in the spring (Easter, Mother’s and cats accounted for 44% of calls to an APCC, with
Day), and increased presence of chocolate around the holi- production animals (bovine, porcine, ovine) and equines
days of Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and the making up 35% of calls (Trammel et al., 1985).
November December holidays (Hautekeete, 2000;
Gwaltney-Brant, 2001; Volmer, 2001; Merola, 2002). Dogs
The majority (.90%) of animal poisonings are acci-
Perhaps at least partly because of their inquisitive natures
dental, acute in nature, and occur near or at the animal
and willingness to investigate everything with their
owner’s home (Hornfeldt and Murphy, 1992, 1998; Khan
mouths, dogs far outrank other species when it comes to
et al., 1999). Malicious intent comprises less than 1% of
owners seeking aid for potential poisonings, making up
all exposures to potentially toxic agents. The majority
70% 80% of all animal cases reported (Hornfeldt and
(70% 95%) of exposures are due to acute ingestion, fol-
Murphy, 1992, 1998; Xavier et al., 2002; Forrester and
lowed by acute dermal exposures (Hornfeldt and Murphy,
Stanley, 2004; Berny et al., 2009; McLean and Hansen,
1992; Forrester and Stanley, 2004). Inhalation, envenom-
2010). There is a tendency in the veterinary community to
ation, bites, ocular, and parenteral routes of exposure
consider certain breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers
account for less than 1% of cases, and chronic exposures
(Labradors), to be more prone to exposure to potentially
comprise approximately 1% of all reported cases. In 97%
toxic agents. However, to verify such an impression, one
of exposures, a single agent is involved (Hornfeldt and
must consider the relative popularity of a particular breed.
Murphy, 1992, 1998).
In other words: Are there more poisoning cases with
Labradors because this breed is really more predisposed
to misadventure, or is it just that there are more Labradors
DEMOGRAPHICS
in the population?
Based on data from human and APCCs, dogs and cats are A survey of the APCC database (2016) evaluated over
the species for which owners most frequently seek assis- 90,000 exposures of nonmixed breed dogs and compared
tance with potential poisonings, accounting for 90% the relative breed incidence to the 2005 Registration
98% of all reported animal cases (Hornfeldt and Murphy, Statistics reported by the American Kennel Club, the old-
1998; Xavier et al., 2002; Forrester and Stanley, 2004; est and largest purebred dog registry in the United States