Lead poisoning in dogs at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5261440

Kowalczyk, D F

Twenty-seven dogs with lead poisoning were admitted to the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital from July, 1963, to April, 1975. The major source of the lead was paint. A common history was ingestion of plaster or paint scrapings during room renovation. Most of the dogs were less than 1 year old and had clinical signs referable to the gastrointestinal or the nervous system, or both. The gastrointestinal signs, in order of frequency, were vomiting, anorexia, tender abdomen, diarrhea, and constipation. The neurologic signs, in order of frequency, were hysteria, convulsions, ataxia, blindness, and mydriasis. The finding of many nucleated erythrocytes without severe anemia was nearly pathognomonic for lead poisoning. Of 14 affected dogs subjected to abdominal radiography, 9 had evidence of ingested radiopaque material. A mean blood lead concentration of 18.8 ..mu..g/100 ml, with a range of 0 to 50 ..mu..g/100 ml, was found for 26 dogs that were hospitalized for problems unrelated to lead poisoning. Of the 27 dogs with lead poisoning, 22 had their blood analyzed for lead. This group had blood lead values ranging from 40 to 530 ..mu..g/100 ml. Seven of the affected dogs were monitored throughout their period of treatment with calcium ethylene-diaminetetraacetate. The concentration of lead in the blood decreased quickly after the initiation and treatment but leveled off after 2 or 3 days. The initial rapid phase probably corresponded to the removal of weakly bound or extracellular lead, whereas the slow phase probably corresponded to strongly bound or intracellular lead. 22 references.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• OSTI ID: 5261440
• Journal Information: J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 168:5; ISSN JAVMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CALCIUM
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CHELATING AGENTS
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DOGS
EDTA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION III
INFORMATION
INJURIES
LEAD
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
USA
VERTEBRATES