Clinical Toxicology Exam 2 2024/2025
Caffeine - What is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive drug, that is legal and
unregulated in most of the world?
Theobromine and caffeine - methylxanthines - What is the toxic component of chocolate?
CNS, kidneys, cardiac and skeletal muscle, GI tract, pancreas - What major systems are affected by
chocolate toxicity?
What type of chocolate?
How much was ingested?
When did the ingestion occur?
What else was possibly ingested? - What are the four most important questions to ask an owner
about a dog with potential chocolate ingestion?
6-12 hours - Clinical signs associated with chocolate ingestion/toxicity usually appear during what
time frame?
40 mg/kg - Regarding chocolate ingestion, any dose over _________ should be considered life
threatening and treated as such.
Vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, restlessness, polydipsia, bloating - What initial clinical signs are
associated with chocolate toxicity?
Tremors, seizures, polyuria, pancreatitis, tachycardia, PVCs, hyperthermia, coma, death (cardiac
arrhythmia) - What are the more serious clinical signs associated with chocolate toxicity?
Up to 6-8 hours post ingestion, chocolate tends to sit as a blob in the stomach - How late can you
induce emesis in a dog with chocolate ingestion?
Diuresis - increases methylxanthine excretion and decreases resorption, can also correct electrolyte
abnormalities - What is one of the most important components of treating chocolate toxicity?
, Caffeine can be reabsorbed in the bladder - Why do we recommend placing a urinary catheter in
patients with history of caffeine ingestion?
Induce emesis if indicated
Diuresis with urinary catheter
Close cardiac monitoring (lidocaine or beta blocker if needed)
Monitor for seizures/CNS signs (diazepam or barbiturate) - Describe what treatment usually looks
like for a dog with chocolate/caffeine toxicity?
Generally resolve in 48 hours but can last up to 72 - How long can it take for clinical signs to resolve
from a chocolate toxicity?
6-24 hours - How long can it take for clinical signs to show from a Macadamia nut ingestion?
Mechanism of action is unknown - What is the mechanism of action for Macadamia nut toxicity?
Weakness, primarily in the hind limbs
Depression, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, hyperthermia - What clinical signs can be associated with
Macadamia nut toxicity?
Usually complete recovery in 48 hours - How long can it take for clinical signs to resolve with
Macadamia nut toxicity?
Cycasin - GI and hepatotoxicity
B-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) - neurotoxicity - What are the primary toxins in the Sago Palm?
All parts of the plant are considered toxic/poisonous.
Seeds and nuts contain the highest concentration of toxins. - What parts of the Sago Palm are toxic?
Cycasin: after ingestion it is metabolized by intestinal flora into methylazoxymethanol (MAM) - this
metabolite is hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, teratogenic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic - Describe the
mechanism of Cycasin, one of the toxins in Sago Palms:
Caffeine - What is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive drug, that is legal and
unregulated in most of the world?
Theobromine and caffeine - methylxanthines - What is the toxic component of chocolate?
CNS, kidneys, cardiac and skeletal muscle, GI tract, pancreas - What major systems are affected by
chocolate toxicity?
What type of chocolate?
How much was ingested?
When did the ingestion occur?
What else was possibly ingested? - What are the four most important questions to ask an owner
about a dog with potential chocolate ingestion?
6-12 hours - Clinical signs associated with chocolate ingestion/toxicity usually appear during what
time frame?
40 mg/kg - Regarding chocolate ingestion, any dose over _________ should be considered life
threatening and treated as such.
Vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, restlessness, polydipsia, bloating - What initial clinical signs are
associated with chocolate toxicity?
Tremors, seizures, polyuria, pancreatitis, tachycardia, PVCs, hyperthermia, coma, death (cardiac
arrhythmia) - What are the more serious clinical signs associated with chocolate toxicity?
Up to 6-8 hours post ingestion, chocolate tends to sit as a blob in the stomach - How late can you
induce emesis in a dog with chocolate ingestion?
Diuresis - increases methylxanthine excretion and decreases resorption, can also correct electrolyte
abnormalities - What is one of the most important components of treating chocolate toxicity?
, Caffeine can be reabsorbed in the bladder - Why do we recommend placing a urinary catheter in
patients with history of caffeine ingestion?
Induce emesis if indicated
Diuresis with urinary catheter
Close cardiac monitoring (lidocaine or beta blocker if needed)
Monitor for seizures/CNS signs (diazepam or barbiturate) - Describe what treatment usually looks
like for a dog with chocolate/caffeine toxicity?
Generally resolve in 48 hours but can last up to 72 - How long can it take for clinical signs to resolve
from a chocolate toxicity?
6-24 hours - How long can it take for clinical signs to show from a Macadamia nut ingestion?
Mechanism of action is unknown - What is the mechanism of action for Macadamia nut toxicity?
Weakness, primarily in the hind limbs
Depression, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, hyperthermia - What clinical signs can be associated with
Macadamia nut toxicity?
Usually complete recovery in 48 hours - How long can it take for clinical signs to resolve with
Macadamia nut toxicity?
Cycasin - GI and hepatotoxicity
B-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) - neurotoxicity - What are the primary toxins in the Sago Palm?
All parts of the plant are considered toxic/poisonous.
Seeds and nuts contain the highest concentration of toxins. - What parts of the Sago Palm are toxic?
Cycasin: after ingestion it is metabolized by intestinal flora into methylazoxymethanol (MAM) - this
metabolite is hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, teratogenic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic - Describe the
mechanism of Cycasin, one of the toxins in Sago Palms:
