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Macadamia Nut Poisoning of Dogs
Abstract
Thirteen adult dogs of both sexes, various ages and at least five different breeds presented with sudden onset of various combinations of posterior paresis, recumbency and joint pain between six and 24 hours after earing between 0.7 and 4.9g/kg (mean 3.5g/kg) of kernels (raw or roasted) of Macadamia spp. trees. For a 20kg dog, this dose range represents about 5-40 whole kernels (kernel mean mass 2.5g). All dogs recovered uneventfully within 24 hours of onset. Anecdotal evidence of similar signs and outcomes were recorded for 11 dogs that ate Macadamia kernels during 1992-99, two of which were the subjects of multiple poisoning incidents.
... They are considered to be a valuable food for their low cholesterol and sodium content and as an excellent source of manganese and thiamine (45). Macadamia nut toxicosis has only been reported in dogs to date (1,(47)(48)(49). ...
... The mechanism of action of their toxicity in the case of dogs is currently unknown and the dose required to induce toxicity has not been established precisely (46). The ingestion of as little as 0.7 g/kg of nuts has been associated with the development of clinical signs in dogs (48). In another case, a series of toxic doses ranging from 2.2 to 62.4 g/kg was reported (49). ...
... In another case, a series of toxic doses ranging from 2.2 to 62.4 g/kg was reported (49). Clinical signs generally develop within 12 h of ingestion and may include weakness (particularly hind limb weakness), depression, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, hyperthermia, abdominal pain, lameness, stiffness, recumbency, and pale mucous membranes (47)(48)(49). ...
Several foods that are perfectly suitable for human consumption can be toxic to dogs and cats. Food-associated poisoning cases involving the accidental ingestion of chocolate and chocolate-based products, Allium spp. (onion, garlic, leek, and chives), macadamia nuts, Vitis vinifera fruits (grapes, raisins, sultanas, and currants), products sweetened with xylitol, alcoholic beverages, and unbaked bread dough have been reported worldwide in the last decade. The poisoning episodes are generally due to lack of public knowledge of the serious health threat to dogs and cats that can be posed by these products. The present review aims to outline the current knowledge of common food items frequently involved in the poisoning of small animals, particularly dogs, and provides an overview of poisoning episodes reported in the literature.
... 2,17,18 M Ma ak ka ad de em mi ia a f fı ın nd dı ığ ğı ı: : Ülkemizde yetişmemekle birlikte artık kolaylıkla bulunan bu fındık arka bacaklarda güçsüzlük, depresyon, kusma, ataksi, tremor, eklemlerde ağrı ve abdominal ağrıya neden olur. 19,20 M Mi ik ko ot to ok ks si in n v ve e a af fl lo ot to ok ks si in nl le er r: : Gıdalara bulaşan bu maddeler kedi ve köpeklerde kusma, karaciğer hasarı, dispne, depresyon, burun kanaması, ikterus ve yaygın damariçi koagulasyona yol açar. Mide koruyucular, antiemetik, K vitamini ve N-asetilsistein ile tedavi edilmelidir. ...
The spectrum of therapeutic need in veterinary medicine is large, and the availability of approved drug products for all veterinary species and indications is relatively small. For this reason, extemporaneous preparation, or compounding, of drugs is commonly employed to provide veterinary medical therapies. The scope of veterinary compounding is broad and focused primarily on meeting the therapeutic needs of companion animals and not food-producing animals in order to avoid human exposure to drug residues. As beneficial as compounded medical therapies may be to animal patients, these therapies are not without risks, and serious adverse events may occur from poor quality compounds or excipients that are uniquely toxic when administered to a given species. Other challenges in extemporaneous compounding for animals include significant regulatory variation across the global veterinary community, a relative lack of validated compounding formulas for use in animals, and poor adherence by compounders to established compounding standards. The information presented in this article is intended to provide an overview of the current landscape of compounding for animals; a discussion on associated benefits, risks, and challenges; and resources to aid compounders in preparing animal compounds of the highest possible quality.
Geotrichum candidum was cultured from the tonsils of a free-ranging weaner pig that was presented with lethargy and inappetence. Histopathology indicated pyogranulomatous tonsillitis with intralesional fungal hyphae and arthrospores. Geotrichosis is a rare, opportunistic mycosis of immunocompromised hosts, usually human beings.
Plant poisoning occurs less commonly in dogs and cats than in herbivorous livestock, but numerous cases have been documented worldwide, most of them caused by common and internationally widely cultivated ornamental garden and house plants. Few cases of poisoning of cats and dogs have been reported in southern Africa, but many of the plants that have caused poisoning in these species elsewhere are widely available in the subregion and are briefly reviewed in terms of toxic principles, toxicity, species affected, clinical signs, and prognosis. The list includes Melia azedarach (syringa), Brunfelsia spp. (yesterday, today and tomorrow), Datura stramonium (jimsonweed, stinkblaar), a wide variety of lilies and lily-like plants, cycads, plants that contain soluble oxalates, plants containing cardiac glycosides and other cardiotoxins and euphorbias (Euphorbia pulcherrima, E. tirucalli). Poisoning by plant products such as macadamia nuts, onions and garlic, grapes and raisins, cannabis (marijuana, dagga) or hashish and castor oil seed or seedcake is also discussed. Many of the poisonings are not usually fatal, but others frequently result in death unless rapid action is taken by the owner and the veterinarian, underlining the importance of awareness of the poisonous potential of a number of familiar plants.
Eighteen cattle (six Bonsmara males, seven Simmanteler x Beefmaster males and five Simmanteler x Beefmaster females) were assigned to three diets containing 0% (Control), 10% and 20% Macadamia oil cake to evaluate the effects of different levels of Macadamia oilcake (MOC) on feed intake, growth performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle. Differences in average feed intake were not significant (P > 0.05). Average daily gains on the 0% and 20% MOC diets were not significantly different (P < 0.05) but were significantly higher than the average gain on 10% MOC (P < 0.05). The inclusion of 20% MOC increased feed conversion ratio significantly (P < 0.05) compared with the other two treatments. The control group had significantly heavier warm carcasses than the 10% and 20% MOC groups and the 20% MOC group had significantly heavier carcasses than the 10% MOC group. The inclusion of MOC did not significantly affect the dressing percentage and conformation scores of the animals (P > 0.05). There were no condemned livers, suggesting that either there were no toxic factors in the feed or, even if present, were probably inactive in the liver.
Members of the genus Macadamia contain cyanogenic compounds, which release hydrogen cyanide (HCN) on hydrolysis. Concentrations of releasable cyanide were measured in tissues of mature nuts and seedlings of Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche, M. tetraphylla L.A.S. Johnson and M. ternifolia F.Muell. Root, cotyledon and leaf samples were assayed at several developmental stages from germination to maturation of the first leaves. All samples contained detectable levels of cyanide. Concentrations were low (0.15 μmol g-1 fresh weight) in cotyledons of mature M. integrifolia and M. tetraphylla seeds, corresponding to the edibility of the seeds of these commercial species, and much higher (9.6 μmol g-1) in the inedible M. ternifolia seeds. Levels in cotyledons of all three species rose dramatically during germination. Root cyanide concentrations of 6-23 μmol g-1 were measured. The immature first leaf of the commercial species contained the highest concentrations (38-77 μmol g-1). Levels decreased with leaf maturity, correlating with toughening of the leaf and possibly a consequent diminished requirement for cyanide as a herbivory deterrent. The significance of the results with respect to plant-insect interactions is discussed.
After grazing forage sorghum and grain sorghum regrowth, 54 of 330 breeding cows became ataxic and developed urinary incontinence. Three cows became recumbent, 2 of which died and the third was killed and autopsied. Wallerian degeneration of the white matter of the spinal cord, cerebellar peduncles and cerebellum was seen histologically. Other affected animals began to recover on removal from the crop, complete clinical recovery taking from a few days to over a month. About 5% of affected cows develped purulent cystitis.