Search results for “toxic”.
Recently, seventeen cows died within twenty-four hours after consuming new hay. All of the cows died within 100 yards of the hay. A sample of the hay, along with tissue samples and ocular fluid from one of the cows were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for testing. Toxic levels of…
When horses ingest the cantharidin toxin through hay or alfalfa contaminated with “blister” beetles, the outcome is often fatal. Toxicosis occurs rapidly; as little as four grams of dried beetles may contain fatal levels of cantharidin. Cantharidin is extremely toxic and fast-acting, quickly affecting a horse’s ability to function. All blister beetles carry cantharidin and…
A nine month old, spayed female, domestic cat became neurologic and was unresponsive to supportive treatment. Upon death, the head and three sections of liver were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for histopathologic evaluation and toxicology testing. Following a negative rabies test, a portion of fixed brain was examined and…
Fumonisin B1 is the most prevalent of several fumonisin mycotoxins (B1, B2, B3) produced by Fusarium molds in corn. Corn contamination can occur at very high levels when permissive environmental conditions coincide with vulnerable points in corn kernel production. Equine Leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) Horses and other equids, as well as rabbits, are the most fumonisin-sensitive species.…
A veterinarian was investigating the cause of increased non-respiratory disease mortalities in beef feeder cattle. The cattle were 100-200 days on feed and had signs of systemic compromise before acute death. On necropsy, the animals had advanced autolysis of the peritoneal organs, especially the liver and kidneys, and bladder distention. The bladders contained clotted blood…
A six-month-old, intact male, Doberman Pinscher was observed chewing on a small zip-lock bag and then spit it out. The dog became hyperactive and difficult to control. The dog also developed a bloody, mucoid stool. No vomiting was noted. The small zip-lock bag was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for…
TVMDL received a full set of fresh and fixed tissue samples and stomach content from a four-year-old Belgian Tervuren for testing. The dog appeared normal in the morning, running and playing in the yard. The owner found the dog deceased two hours later. It was noted that the dog liked to eat corn as it…
A forensic or legal necropsy as defined by the purposes of the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is a necropsy done to attempt to determine the cause of death in cases where the death is known or suspected to be non-natural, there are suspicious circumstances, or there is evidence of foul play. They…
Four dogs were brought to a veterinary clinic when one had been seizing for several hours and the other three had begun to tremble. All four dogs had reportedly been running loose in a rural area. Vomiting was induced in the worst of the tremblers, and all three of them responded to overnight pentobarbital/fluid therapy…
Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) barely take a break in warm winters. The most frequently observed blue-green algae that cause blooms in the greater Brazos Valley area are Microcystis sp., Oscillatoria sp., and Anabaena sp. These species all tend to produce microcystins, which are hepatotoxic to all species. In a recent case, clinical history noted a group of dogs playing in a pond thick with Microcystis colonies…