Queensland News - Australian Veterinary Association

AVA Queensland News - August 2009Summary by Major Poisonous Plants and Toxins, Life-Threatening Poisonings:Brunfelsia spp. PoisoningBrunfelsia spp. (about 40 species; South American origin; Family Solanaceae).Known toxic species Brunfelsia australis (francisia, yesterday-today-and-tomorrow) in Australia, Brunfelsiapauciflora in North America & Australia, Brunfelsia latifolia in Australia.Conditions of poisoning: Fruits are toxic. Dogs attracted to ripe fruit will eat large amounts (April-June), fatalcases have had 40-100 fruits in stomach.Clinical signs: vomiting, diarrhoea, urination, ataxia, muscle tremor, convulsions (extensor rigidity, opisthotonus).Signs may also include excitement, nystagmus, stomatitis, haematuria.Pathological signs: gastroenteritis, fruits in faeces/stomach.Organosulphur compoundsAllium cepa (onion) toxic doses reported for dogs: 600-800 g raw onion (single dose) = 3-5 large onions (eachlarge bulb weighs about 170-200 g); or 15 + g raw onion/kg (400 + g for a 25 kg dog = 2 large onions) daily for2-3 days causes anaemia of sudden onset; or 11 g raw onion/kg (275 g for a 25 kg dog = about 1.5 large onions)daily for several days causes anaemia of gradual onset. Cooking does not destroy toxicity.Allium cepa (onion) toxic doses reported for cats: 28 g raw onion/kg (112 g for a 4 kg cat = about 1 mediumsizedonion) once daily for 3 days.Allium sativa (garlic) toxic doses reported for dogs: diet containing 7% raw garlic toxic to dogs; fed for 50 days;time to onset of anaemia not stated.Sources: kitchen and barbecue scraps; human meal residues; Chinese cuisine, pizza; baby food (onion powder).Syndrome: Heinz body haemolytic anaemia, haemoglobinuria.Cycad Seed PoisoningToxicant: Methylazoxymethanol (MAM), a glycone of cycad glycosides cycasin and macrozamin.Sources: any coning female cycad (dioecious taxa).Syndrome: Liver and alimentary necrosis.Duranta erecta Poisoning (Garden Or Hedge Shrubs)Dogs, cats, birds, cattle, kangaroos, humans.Fruits, leaves.Toxin unknown: large amounts required for toxicity.Dogs - clinical signs: depression (drowsiness, drooped eyelids), gum pallor; excessive salivation, bradycardia,melenic diarrhoea + plant fragments, tetanic convulsions from external stimuli, ± coma & death.Dogs - clinical pathology (2 dogs): no liver or kidney dysfunction.Dogs - necropsy (1 pup): plant material (fruits, leaves) in gastro-intestinal tract, stomach haemorrhage.Cardiac Glycoside PoisoningNerium oleander toxic dose:Dog: fresh leaf fatal at 50-220 mg/kg; cat: fresh leaf fatal at 40-50 mg/kg (1 fresh leaf = 1.5 g); 20 kg dog fataldose = 1-3 leaves, 4 kg cat fatal dose =