Lead poisoning in dogs at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital
Kowalczyk, D.F.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 168(5): 428-432
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 815231 Document Number: 105705
Between 1963 and 1975, 27 cases of lead poisoning were confirmed at the hospital. Gastrointestinal symptoms included vomiting, anorexia, tender abdomen, diarrhoea or constipation, and neurological symptoms included hysteria, convulsions, ataxia, blindness and mydriasis. Where spectrographic procedures for the quantitative determination of lead are not available, a complete blood count is recommended. The presence of numerous nucleated erythrocytes, in the absence of anaemia, is a useful diagnostic sign. Of 18 dogs treated with CaEDTA, 13 recovered. The commonest cause of lead poisoning was the ingestion of paint, which was sometimes visible as radio-opaque material in the intestine.