Animal poisonings: The 10-year experience of a veterinary analytical toxicology laboratory

Data on 10-y of chemical toxicological analyses carried out in a veterinary laboratory in Barcelona, Spain for suspected wild and domestic animal pois onings are summarized. The 218 cases involved more than 1 million animals, some 7,500 of which died. Pesticides, especially insecticides (46.6%) and r odenticides (37.9%), were frequently involved. Strychnine (n=11) and aldica rb (n=10) were the most usual toxic agents in baits prepared for intentiona l poisonings; other cases involved pentachlorophenol, hexachlorocyclohexane or anticoagulant rodenticides. Service to veterinarians and others could b e improved if a coordinated network of national and regional Animal Poison Centers were created.