General Approach to Treating Poisoning and Toxin-associated Diseases in Cattle
Treatment in cases of poisoning / due to toxins requires immediate attention and treatment. It is essential to understand the causal poison quickly as specific antidote can be given. Along with specific, supportive therapy is essential to address the metabolic and physiological lesions. The treatment approach to poisoning can be classified into:
- Specific antidote
- Fluids
- Supportive
Specific Antidotes:
Methylene Blue
| Indications | Nitrate poisoning |
| Dose | 1-2 ml per kg body weight intravenous slow |
| Reaction | General pain, blue or green urine; loss of appetite, dizziness; sweating, skin discoloration |
| Suppliers | Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Flagship Biotech International |
Atropine sulphate- (1 mg / ml)
| Indications | Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning – Do not use in other poisoning as it has several side effects |
| Dose | (0.01 – 0.02 mg / kg), 30 mg / 45 kg body weight to be give slow intravenous 1/3rd i.v. and rest i.m. (t1/2 is 2.5 hours) |
| Reaction | Tachycardia, arrhythmias, syncope, mydriasis, abdominal pain, tachypnoea, slow respiration, fever |
| Suppliers | Atro (Prem Pharma), Tropine (Neon Pharma) |
Glycopyrroline bromide (0.2 mg / ml)
| Indications | Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning, better replacement of atropine sulphate |
| Dose | 0.002 to 0.004 mg per kg |
| Reactions | combining with alpha 2 agonists is not permitted |
| Suppliers | Pyrolin (Celon Pharma), Vagolate (AHPL) |
Edetate calcium disodium (20% injection)
| Indication | It is a chelating agent more specific for lead and aluminium, cadmium And nickel poisoning without affecting body calcium levels. |
| Dose | Starting dose 50 mg / kg per day, 25-35 mg / kg dep i.m. or i.v. every day for 5-7 days, the dose can be divided in the day |
| Reactions | Pain where the medicine was injected, fever, chills, muscle or joint pain tremors; loss of appetite; watery eyes |
| Suppliers | Livodate-Ca (Liv Bio Pharma, Kerala- phone- 8046040182) |
Dimercaprol (British Anti lewisite-BAL)
| Indications | Heavy metal poisoning, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, silver, cadmium |
| Dose | 4 mg per kg repeat after 4 hours, repeat only if urine output is normal |
| Reaction | Severe drowsiness, abdominal pain, anxiety, restless, rapid heartbeats |
| Supplier | Dimercaprol injection (Samarth Life Sciences) |
Calcium borogluconate (Calborol, Calcium Sandoz)
| Indications | Oxalate poisoning, Acute Fluorosis |
| Dose | 300-450 ml intravenous or sub-cutenous, i.v. should be given very slow |
| Reaction | Cardiac fibrillation |
| Overdose | Ca-EDTA is specific antidote |
| Suppliers | Borocal (Vetindia), Calborol (Novartis), Calmex (Zoetis), Calvib (Virbac) |
Sodium nitrite (30 mg / ml)
| Indications | HCN poisoning |
| Dose | 500 mg per kg body weight |
| Reactions | dizziness, flushing, abdominal pain |
| Suppliers | S. G. Pharmaceutical, Genex Laboratories |
Sodium thiosulphate (12.5 g per 50 ml)
| Indications | HCN poisoning |
| Dose | 500 mg per kg body weight |
| Reaction | agitation, behaviour changes, muscle cramps, hypotension |
| Suppliers | Hope Pharmaceuticals |
Fluid Therapy: Necessary to maintain the circulation, plasma volume, manage hypotension and improve cardiac output
Dextrose – 50% – in case of young calves 25% can be given
| Indications | I.V. fluid to maintain hydration and induce diuresis |
| Dose | 1-4 ml per kg body weight |
| Reactions | Chills, muscle tetany, hyperglycaemia – discontinue administration |
Ringers Lactate
| Indications | Advisable when metabolic acidosis is suspected |
| Dose | 1-4 ml per kg body weight, depending upon evaluation of the deficit |
| Reactions | Do not give with ceftriaxone, citrated blood transfusion, general precaution, avoid mixing any other drug for physical reaction, febrile reaction, hypervolemia |
| Suppliers | Baxter |
Sodium bicarbonate injection (8.4%)
| Indication | Systemic acidosis (rapid and shallow breathing), weak pulse |
| Dose | 3.5 ml per kg body weight |
| Reaction | Do not mix with calcium injections, alkalosis, tachypnoea |
| Suppliers | Sodac (Neon Pharma), Carbocure (Pharmacure Laboratories) |
Nor epinephrine (2mg / ml- 2 ml vial)
| Indications | Hypotension, low cardiac output (check pulse specially of extremities, cold extremities) |
| Dose | 0.5 – 1.0 mg / minute with continuous infusion to combat hypotension |
| Reaction | Pain, burning, irritation, or skin changes around the injection site, slow or uneven heart rate, trouble breathing, balance difficulties, blue mucous membranes |
| Suppliers | Adrinor (Samarth Pharmaceuticals), Adromin (Neiss Pharma), N-Admin (AAA Pharmaceuticals) |
Furosemide (Loop diuretic) 50 mg / ml
| Indications | Diuretic, pulmonary oedema, anuria or oliguria, oedema in brisket or other regions |
| Dose | 0.5-1 mg per kg body weight max 2g in cows / buffaloes, if no diuresis in six hours stop- preferably give i.v. slow |
| Reactions |
Check for hypokalaemia and hypomagnesemia – former very critical and do not use gentamicin, amikacin and streptomycin when using furosemide. |
| Suppliers | Lasix (Aventis), Frasix (Cipla), Removet (Morvet), Ridma (Vetequinol |
Anticonvulsant
Dizepam
| Indications | Sedative, anticonvulsant |
| Dose | 0.5 to 1 mg per kg body weight |
| Reaction | Sedation, sleepiness, overdose may cause respiratory arrest |
| Suppliers | Calmpose (Ranbaxy) |
Midozolam
| Indications | Sedative, pre-anaesthetic, anticonvulsant |
| Dose | 0.02 to -0.1 mg i.v. (0.011 to 0.044 mg per kg body weight) |
| Reactions | Overdose may cause respiratory distress |
| Suppliers | Fulsed 5 mg / ml (Ranbaxy), Midaz 5 mg / ml (AHPL) |
Phenytoin sodium (50 mg / ml)
| Indications | Anticonvulsant |
| Dose | 10-15 mg/kg body weight to prevent seizures |
| Reaction | Polydipsia, polyurea, reduce the dose in case chloramphenicol is co-administered |
| Suppliers | Epsolin (Zydus), Eptoin (Abbott) |
Dr. Abdul Samad
M.V.Sc., Ph.D. (Canada)
Dairy Consultant