Citation

Yurdakok-Dikmen B, Filazi A. Turk. J. Occup. Envir. Med. Saf. 2017; 2(1): e198.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Engin TUTKUN; Bozok Üniversitesi)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Toxicities from illicit and abused substances in pet animals by accidental, intentional or malicious ingestion, are an occasional problem in veterinary practice; where the difficulties of clinical diagnosis and the possible lack of good of anamnesis (owners may provide inaccurate, incomplete, deceive misleading history) creates a higher risk for the survival. In these cases, animals are usually presented to the veterinary clinics once the clinical signs are apparent. Veterinarians are obliged to report legal authorities when the animal is diagnosed with these drugs; whereas it is usually missed. Dogs that work for police and customs are at an increased risk of illicit drug intoxication. Diagnostically, available test kits may help exclude a suspected case in clinics/animal hospitals; meanwhile for the detection of exact amount of exposure, veterinary diagnostic laboratories are required. Whereas, veterinary toxicology laboratories including the broader spectrum of drugs with species specific differences (specific metabolites) are missing in our country, which would expected to serve practicioners in the field. Among the illicit and abused drugs, a discussion of the more common poisonings for dogs and cats including amphetamine/amphetamine-like compounds, sedative/hypnotics, opioids, ketamine, marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, heroin, MDMA, hallucinogens (LSD, mushroom) with their pharmacokinetics, toxicity, pathogenesis, clinical findings diagnostics along with the species specific treatment options are presented. The general opinion, regarding the mirror approaches for the diagnostics/treatment of illicit/abused drugs in humans for pets, should be converted into a more species specific approach with an emphasis in veterinary toxicology.

Language: en