Household Hazards: human medication and everyday toxins
Toxicosis is a commonly encountered emergency observed in small animal practice. Well known toxins include food products, plants and flowers, however there are a wide range of everyday household items which can cause harm to pets, including human medication. Ingestion of human medication may occur through scavenging by a pet, or accidental owner administration, with prognosis impacted by the drug type, dosage and length of time from exposure to treatment.
As veterinary nurses, an awareness of harmful human medication and the clinical signs associated with ingestion is essential for rapid recognition of toxicosis. Stabilisation should be implemented through decontamination and elimination of the toxin, with prompt interventions associated with improved patient outcome. Client education regarding proper medication storage, and improved public awareness of medication misuse, is necessary from both the human and veterinary medicine professions to minimise instances of potentially life-threatening toxicosis.
- -Identify the human medication drug types which are harmful to canine and feline patients.
- -Understand the pathophysiology of toxin exposure.
- -Outline the methods of toxicosis management.
- -Consider the nursing requirements of the toxicosis emergency patient.
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