<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Introduction: Intentional and accidental poisoning of animals is often caused by readily available commercial pesticides, such as the molluscicide metaldehyde. A retrospective analysis of suspected metaldehyde poisonings between 2014 and 2016 in Italy was conducted. Material and Methods: Biological matrices were collected for toxicological analyses in the course of routine Institute activity. A total of 183 organs from dogs and cats and 49 pieces of bait, here specificall y poisoned food used to lure animals, were analysed and the presence of metaldehyde was confirmed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: A high content of metaldehyde was demonstrated in the analysed samples from dogs and cats: 50 (27.3%) animals were found positive for metaldehyde intoxication together with 17 pieces of bait. Conclusion: The study emphasised the need for the control of metaldehyde use by the veterinary service.</p></abstract>

Introduction: Intentional and accidental poisoning of animals is often caused by readily available commercial pesticides, such as the molluscicide metaldehyde. A retrospective analysis of suspected metaldehyde poisonings between 2014 and 2016 in Italy was conducted. Material and Methods: Biological matrices were collected for toxicological analyses in the course of routine Institute activity. A total of 183 organs from dogs and cats and 49 pieces of bait, here specificall y poisoned food used to lure animals, were analysed and the presence of metaldehyde was confirmed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: A high content of metaldehyde was demonstrated in the analysed samples from dogs and cats: 50 (27.3%) animals were found positive for metaldehyde intoxication together with 17 pieces of bait. Conclusion: The study emphasised the need for the control of metaldehyde use by the veterinary service.

Metaldehyde poisoning of companion animals: a three-year retrospective study

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Metaldehyde poisoning of companion animals: a three-year retrospective study"}

Introduction: Intentional and accidental poisoning of animals is often caused by readily available commercial pesticides, such as the molluscicide metaldehyde....

Metaldehyde poisoning of companion animals: a three-year retrospective study

Published Online: Sep 19, 2017

Page range: 307 - 311

Received: May 18, 2017

Accepted: Aug 23, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jvetres-2017-0041

Keywords
dogs, cats, bait, metaldehyde, poisoning

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Metaldehyde poisoning of companion animals: a three-year retrospective study

Published Online: Sep 19, 2017

Page range: 307 - 311

Received: May 18, 2017

Accepted: Aug 23, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jvetres-2017-0041

Keywordsdogs, cats, bait, metaldehyde, poisoning

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
dogs, cats, bait, metaldehyde, poisoning