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ZINC Toxicity |
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Source:
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Zinc poisoning can occur after ingestion of United States
pennies minted during and after 1983, batteries, wood preservatives, paints,
zinc oxide creams, zippers on various clothing and luggage items, board game
pieces, herbal supplements, coating on some galvanized cookware, and the screws
or nuts used to secure the lids on pet carriers. Zinc phosphide rodenticides are
not a significant source of zinc but are toxic due to other ingredients.
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| Symptoms |
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- Pale gums
- Rapid, labored breathing
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Discolored urine- red / brown colour
- Halitosis / bad breath
- Jaundice- yellow pigment to the skin
- Seizures
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| Toxicity |
| Zinc is irritating and corrosive, and interferes with the
normal balance of copper, cadmium, calcium and iron in the body. Acute toxicosis
causes a hemolytic anemia leading to the weakness, pale gums, rapid &
labored breathing, discolored urine, and jaundice. |
| Diagnosis |
| Although zinc poisoning is definitively diagnosed by
measuring the zinc level in the blood, other blood tests, combined with x-ray
identification of metallic foreign material in the intestines, can help confirm
the diagnosis of zinc poisoning. It is very important to distinguish zinc
toxicity from other diseases (such as immune mediated hemolytic anemia) that may
cause similar symptoms so that the animal is treated appropriately. |
| Treatment |
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Treatment is based on removing the zinc from the animal’s
body. This can require surgical removal of any metallic foreign material seen on
x-rays, and may include binding any circulating zinc with special drugs (known
as chelators). Fluid therapy is essential to help eliminate the zinc more
quickly from the body, and blood transfusions may be necessary if too many red
blood cells are destroyed by the zinc. Finally, eliminating environmental
exposure is essential to prevent repeat contamination.
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| Prognosis |
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The prognosis in cases of zinc poisoning is usually good
when early and aggressive therapy is instituted including surgery and/or blood
transfusions.
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