Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Strychnine poisoning in large dogs in Western Canada 1998-2013
By Cowan, Vanessa E & Blakley, Barry R·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2015·University of Saskatchewan, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A retrospective study of canine strychnine poisonings from 1998 to 2013 in Western Canada.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 93 cases of dogs that were poisoned by strychnine in Western Canada over 16 years. The research found that this type of poisoning was most common in large breeds and often affected older male dogs, especially during the spring months. Unfortunately, more than half of the poisoned dogs did not survive. This highlights the importance of keeping pets away from potential toxins like strychnine, which can be found in certain rodenticides. If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, it's crucial to seek veterinary help immediately.
People also search for: dog strychnine poisoning symptoms · large breed dog poisoning · what to do if my dog is poisoned
Abstract
This study describes observations related to 93 cases of strychnine poisoning in dogs over a 16-year period in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. Epidemiological information describing age, gender, breed, and size of the dogs, geographical distribution of poisonings, and strychnine concentrations in tissue matrices were tabulated. The mortality in dogs poisoned with strychnine was 60.2%. Strychnine poisoning cases varied by year (P = 0.0012) and by season (P = 0.0005). The highest number of confirmed cases occurred in years 2000 and 2001. Poisonings occurred most frequently during the spring. There were no statistical differences related to age or gender, but older, male dogs appeared to be more commonly affected. Large dog breeds were most commonly affected. Strychnine was detected in multiple tissue matrices, including stomach contents, liver, urine, vomitus, and gastric washings. The study indicates that strychnine poisoning in the dog remains a common toxicosis in western Canada.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26028680/