ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for Vets: Recent Episodes
Dr. Tina Wismer
Top toxins, myth-busting, seasonal dangers, and treatment protocols on the go — check out the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's Tox Talks podcasts.
Proin, also called phenylpropanolamine or PPA, is an excellent drug for managing urinary incontinence. Unfortunately, it's all too common for pets to overdose. Today we'll cover how PPA works, what signs we see, and how to treat overdoses.
Alpha lipoic acid, also known as thioctic acid, is an antioxidant used for energy generation in cells. It also acts on glucose and lipid metabolism. It's found in a variety of supplements, including veterinary products. Unfortunately, overdoses can cause a variety of toxiceffects. Today we'll discuss alpha lipoic acid, its role in metabolism, what happens with overdoses, and how to treat exposures.
Zinc phosphide is a rodenticide that's used less frequently than others. Join Dr. Jeffers as he explains how zinc phosphide affects small animals and the best approaches for treating exposed pets.
Amlodipine is an excellent drug for managing hypertension in small animals; unfortunately, overdoses can cause severe side effects. Listen in as Dr. Jeffers discusses amlodipine, its effects on small animals, and how to treat them.
Marijuana is everywhere these days, and pet exposures are becoming more common. Listen in as Dr. Jeffers talks about the history of the plant, what signs we see in pets and how to treat them once they've been exposed.
Fluorouracil, or 5-FU, is a popular topical chemotherapy agent used for a variety of cancers. Unfortunately, pets are often exposed and can experience serious side effects. Listen in as Dr. Jeffers discusses 5-FU's effects and how to treat them.
Beta‑blockers are incredibly valuable medications — they help manage high blood pressure, control arrhythmias, and even reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety. But when pets get into them, the results can be serious. In this episode, Dr. Jeffers breaks down how beta‑blockers work, what clinical signs we see in overdose situations, and the treatment approaches veterinary teams rely on to stabilize affected animals.
Toads may be cute, but depending on the species, they can be deadly. In this episode, Dr. Jeffers discusses the more toxic toad varieties and what to do if your patient is exposed.
Mushrooms are a cause of consternation for many veterinarians. They are extremely common in nature, but they are often steeped in mystery. Listen in as Dr. A.J. Jeffers goes over the basics of mycology!
Serotonin is the most famous neuro-transmitter in pop culture. Most people know it as a happy chemical, the one that rises when you see pictures of cute animals. But there's always room for too much of a good thing, and serotonin is no exception.
Psilocybin is all the rage today. Magic mushrooms are growing more accepted legally and socially. Listen in as Dr. AJ Jeffers reviews the toxic concern regarding psilocybin exposures in animals.
In this episode, Dr. A.J. Jeffers from the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center explores the history and application of activated charcoal, its potential side effects, and guidelines for safe use. The discussion also covers situations when activated charcoal should be avoided and alternative methods for managing toxin exposures.
There are many drugs in the veterinary arsenal that can be used to treat potentially poisoned patients. Some of these are commonly found in most veterinary practices, while others may be a little more exotic.
In this discussion, we will review various drugs used in toxicology. This includes cyproheptadine, atropine, ethanol, naloxone, and others.
Baclofen is a prescribed muscle relaxer for humans. For small dogs, even one or two pills could potentially be life-threatening. Initially, dogs will salivate and become disoriented and vocal. As signs progress, heartrate may either decrease or increase, arrhythmias may be appreciated, blood pressure drops, they may become comatose, have seizures, and have difficulty breathing. If your patient has ingested baclofen, it is best to assess them immediately as signs can progress very rapidly.
Insoluble calcium oxalate-containing plants are common indoor and outdoor ornamental plants. Learn about typical symptoms and how to help treat a pet exposure.
Lilies. They are beautiful, and commonly found in flower boutiques year-round. But, did you know that even a small bite of a lily leaf can cause kidney damage in cats? While many animals can develop signs after ingesting lilies, cats are the only ones sensitive to true lilies. Learn about which lilies are toxic to cats, and symptoms associated with this exposure.
In today’s discussion, we will review garlic and onions, common symptoms when ingested by dogs or cats, and potential treatment options.
We can all appreciate the excitement and beauty of finally seeing the spring-blooming plants after a long winter. Unfortunately, many of these plants can be harmful to animals. In this podcast, we will be discussing toxic spring plants and what to be on the lookout for.
Is it safe to use sunscreen on pets? Sunscreen season is right around the corner, and with it comes a variety of questions about pets and sunscreen applications. In this podcast, we will discuss sunscreen exposures and what you need to be on the lookout for.
Many of us enjoy growing our own fruits and vegetables in the summer. Unfortunately, many of these plants can be harmful to pets.
In this podcast, we will be discussing the toxic plants that may be present in your garden.
Methylxanthines such as theophylline, caffeine, and theobromine, are naturally occurring alkaloids present in many plants that are used to make food and beverage products all over the world. As far as chocolate goes, the darker the chocolate, the higher the concentration. Learn how to treat methylxanthine exposures and what to look for if a patient is exposed to this substance.
In this episode, Jill Peisker sits down with APCC medical director Dr. Tina Wismer to discuss cholecalciferol rodenticides. For more information on this topic, visit our ASPCA Pro site and sign up for our monthly newsletter ToxInsider for regular updates in the world of animal toxicology.
Now that the colder months are upon us, snow and ice are sure to strike at some point as well. This means that many people will be using a variety of ice melt products to keep sidewalks and driveways safe. But are these safe for pets and what's the difference between solid and liquid ice melt exposures?
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used in many products such as gum, mints, candy, baked goods, and toothpaste, as a sweetener. The amount of xylitol in products varies widely and is changing all of the time. Learn where to look for xylitol in various products, and how to treat it if a pet is exposed.
Amphetamines are among the most commonly encountered substances at the Animal Poison Control Center. Whether the exposure is to prescription ADHD/ADD medications or to illicit amphetamines, patient presentation and management would be the same or similar. In this podcast, we will dissect the types of exposures we see at the ASPCA APCC and various treatment recommendations.
An owner calls the office in need of advice. The family dog was just sprayed by a skunk. What do you do? Aside from the obvious and instantaneous change in body odor, what clinical signs should we monitor for? What is the best way to eliminate the stench? Are there any serious sequelae that may develop? In today’s Tox Talks, we are going to answer these questions as we discuss the potential risks of skunk encounters.
There are multiple types of mushrooms and toxicity varies significantly. In this podcast, we focus on 4 types of mushrooms that are expected to cause signs within a few hours.
Albuterol exposure in pets may affect the cardiovascular, central nervous and gastrointestinal systems. Learn about how to treat albuterol exposure and how to manage signs.
Phenylbutazone, commonly called bute, is an NSAID that has historically been used therapeutically in dogs. However, both the risk of significant side effects and the development of much safer NSAID choices have made its use in small animal practice practically non-existent. Learn what is being used in its place and how to best treat patients.
Mr.Smith's lab puppy just unzipped his son’s backpack and has chewed into a full container of sugar-free gum. The questions, as always, center on protecting the health of our patients – we want to treat effectively, to prevent injury or illness, but not over-treat. This is a short summary of decontamination techniques – a great place to start in many cases.
One question we get every day from veterinarians is whether or not to use activated charcoal when presented with a toxicity case. Activated charcoal can be a very helpful treatment modality; however, it does have some potentially serious adverse effects. Learn when it's best to use activated charcoal, and when it could be potentially harmful to the pet.
In this podcast, we review a variety of household toxic hazards, and the relative risk that many household products pose for causing an intoxication in pets.
Bromethalin-based rodenticide exposures in cats and dogs can be a big issue. Cases surrounding Bromethalin exposures have increased since they have become more common after they were made available in 1985. But what is it about Bromethalin that causes it to be such an issue?
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®, non-aspirin pain reliever, APAP) is a synthetic non-opiate derivative of p-aminophenol. In today’s discussion, we will review the toxicity of this specific human medication and the dangers it can pose to pets.
In this podcast, we will review ice melts, ethylene glycol, bread dough, moldy food, and liquid potpourri. Rodenticides are also very popular this time of year. We will review various winter hazards to pets and different treatment options.
In this episode, Jill Peisker sits down with APCC medical director Dr. Tina Wismer and discusses marijuana exposures.
For more information on this topic and many more, visit our ASPCA Pro site. There we also have our free CE library, journal articles, and veterinary clinic resources.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter ToxInsider for regular updates in the world of animal toxicology.
Rodenticides are consistently in the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s annual list of the top 10 most common pet toxins. As veterinary professionals, it is important to learn the mechanism of action and treatment protocol for these all too common exposures to ensure the best possible outcome for patients.