Incidence of Clinical Signs in Poisoned Pets of Thailand: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Clinical signs appear immediately or gradually in poisoned pets. Poisonous agents in pets, especially dogs and cats, have been reported to include human medications (acetaminophen), pesticides (organophosphate and carbamate), insecticides for veterinary use (ivermectin), and food (methylxanthines). The current study investigated the incidence of poisoning in dogs and cats residing in Rayong and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces as well as Bangkok, Thailand, during 2016-2020. The study found a total of 102 poisoned cases of dog and cat, including 58 dogs (56.86%) and 44 cats (43.14%). The poisoned dogs included 39 males (67.24%) and 19 females (32.26%), while poisoned cats consisted of 29 males (65.91%) and 15 females (34.09%). Poisoning was highly diagnosed in mixed breed dogs and domestic short-haired cats. The average age of poisoned dogs and cats was reported as 3.67 ± 1.92 and 3.02 ± 1.72 years, respectively. The most common poisonous agents found in dogs and cats were organophosphate-carbamate groups and acetaminophen. Tachycardia, hypersalivation, dyspnea, and facial swelling were the most common clinical signs observed in poisoned dogs and cats.