Poisoning

When we think of poisoning we usually refer to the animal eating some ‘foreign’ substance, for example lead (often old paint on doors) or plants such as yew trees. The clinical signs seen will depend on the poison eaten. Ingestion of lead produces nervous signs, whereas eating yew leads to sudden death due to heart failure. Poisoning can also occur from eating an excess of some substance which in small quantities is essential for growth. Copper is a good example of this, being essential for growth, but in excess causing liver failure.

Treatment of poisoning is difficult. Sometimes there are specific antidotes, but more often all that we can do is treat the symptoms (e.g. scouring) and hope that the cow can overcome and excrete the toxin herself.