Page 227 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

230 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

Toxic levels of aflatoxin in a commercial food led to numerous
Table 11-2. Clinical signs of selected foodborne illnesses.
VetBooks.ir Clinical signs Agents causing the foodborne illness reports of affected dogs (Derezynski et al, 2006; Stenske et al,
2006).Therefore, knowledge of this information can be used in
Vomiting/diarrhea
S. aureus, Salmonella spp.,
Neorickettsia spp., E. coli, B. cereus, the diagnostic process. If other animals in the same household
are eating food from the same bag or container and remain
Yersinia spp., Campylobacter spp., bio-
genic amines, aflatoxins, vomitoxin, asymptomatic, then implication of the food is diminished, and
cyclopiazonic acid, lead, arsenic, zinc, other possible causes should be investigated. Date codes on
cadmium bags or cans of food may be used by the manufacturer to link
Liver disorders, Aflatoxins, fumonisins, lead, arsenic,
jaundice rubratoxin, Yersinia spp. illness of multiple pets in widely separated geographic areas.
Blood disorders, e.g., Aflatoxins, Neorickettsia spp., lead, The food is not a likely suspect if pets consuming food with the
anemia, hemorrhages onions, garlic, rubratoxin, same date code are not experiencing similar clinical signs.
cyclopiazonic acid, mycotoxins
CNS/nervous C. botulinum, fumonisins, penitrem A, However, even if it appears that the commercial food has
disturbances lead, arsenic, mercury, chocolate been exonerated in a wide geographic area, one should not end
Kidney pathology Ochratoxin, cyclopiazonic acid, E. coli, the commercial food investigation because the pet owner may
lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium,
chocolate, grapes/raisins have compromised the product’s integrity by improper storage
Skin lesions E. coli, garlic, arsenic, cyclopiazonic or usage. The veterinarian should contact the manufacturer to
acid determine if similar cases have been reported. Company tech-
nical personnel can also help the differential diagnostic process
by supplying key information about product testing, additional
be important, particularly if the pet owner, instead of a profes- areas of investigation and beneficial laboratory tests. Major pet
sional exterminator, had applied the pesticide. Exposure to food companies frequently check raw ingredients for mycotox-
other toxicants in the pet’s environment, such as recent use of ins, mineral levels, heavy metals, pesticides, spoilage indicators,
certain cleaning chemicals, is always a distinct possibility and peroxides and other substances as part of their quality control
should be thoroughly investigated. A run or hike in the woods and specifications for incoming raw materials.
may allow the pet access to contaminated material containing
bacteria or mycotoxins that induce foodborne illness. The Physical Examination
AAPCC reported that home exposures are responsible for The physical examination of patients suspected to have a food-
91.6% of canine and 93.3% of feline poisonings (Hornfeldt and borne illness should be thorough, just as for other diseases.
Murphy, 1998). If pets are allowed to roam freely outdoors, the Although signs of GI disease may be obvious, one should also
scope of investigation must be expanded. Free-roaming animals be alert for other clinical signs such as cutaneous lesions or signs
have access to pesticides, other toxic chemicals, poisoned bait, that might signify central nervous system or hepatic disease
trash, garbage and spoiled foods. Pets on farms and ranches (Table 11-2). If possible, samples of vomitus and feces should
have an increased exposure to pesticides and agricultural chem- be obtained for laboratory testing. Veterinarians should also use
icals.They also have the freedom to ingest animal feeds intend- their own olfactory senses. Many toxicities impart unique odors
ed for other species that may contain feed additives such as to the patient. For example, fishy breath emanating from a dog
ionophores and organic arsenicals, which are toxic to pets. known to be consuming a cereal-based dry dog food with no
These examples lend credence to the fact that one cannot added fish oil or fish meal would be noteworthy. Likewise, a
achieve an adequate history by allowing the pet owner to sim- pesticide odor on a cat’s coat would be a significant observation.
ply describe the events that preceded the illness. Instead, it is Again, one cannot overemphasize the investigative prowess
imperative that the veterinarian take the initiative to tactfully that must be exercised in foodborne illness cases.
probe and query the pet owner for every piece of key informa- Another important reason for conducting a routine physical
tion. Most pet owners feel that such facts are irrelevant, and examination is to evaluate the need for symptomatic treatment.
others may refuse to admit that their pet would scavenge Patients may have signs such as dehydration, seizures or high
garbage cans. Still others may even give incorrect information fever that require symptomatic or supportive treatment before
to conceal their own negligence. All family members should be a final diagnosis is made.This determination is best made dur-
included in these discussions if possible. This is a good time to ing the physical examination. If emergency treatment is war-
request that the pet owner bring the food in its container to the ranted, consultation with a local veterinary school, state veteri-
hospital for testing. It is important that the entire food contain- nary diagnostic laboratory, hospital poison control center or the
er be brought, not just a sample selected by the pet owner (to American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals may be
be discussed later in the chapter). useful.The National Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-
Contamination of a commercial pet food will usually pro- 4435) may also prove helpful.
duce an epizootic of sick pets within a wide geographic area, as
exemplified by events in Europe and recently in the United Clinical Laboratory Testing
States. A popular brand of cat food was inadvertently contam- Clinical laboratory testing should be performed routinely in all
inated with the food animal drug salinomycin, causing paraly- suspected foodborne illness cases. Many such illnesses are
sis and death in several hundred cats (Spillers Petfoods, 1996). short-lived so hematologic and serum biochemistry values may