DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF LEAD-POISONING IN THE DOG

When atypical nervous troubles are observed in the dog, lead poisoning can be confirmed by: epidemiologoical observations: paints are the mo st frequent source of contamination. clinical results: neuromotor trou bles (muscular contractures, epileptiform attacks) are more consistent ly seen than digestive problems. laboratory results: the authors recom mend the measurement of the level of lead and protoporphyrin IX in tot al blood samples. Treatment will only be effective if the source of co nt amination has been discovered and removed. Apart from the treatment of the symptoms, the use of a chelator accelerates the removal oi lea d from the organism. Disodium calcitetracemate(ND) remains the most re commended product and diverse programmes of treatment are described. T he CNITV (National Toxicology information Centre) advises the use of 5 0 mg/kg BW/day (I.V.), given as two treatments for five days separated by an interval of one week. The effectiveness of the use of BAL(ND), penicillamine and thiamine needs to be evaluated in the dog.