cholecalciferol and Poisoning

The primary source of exposure to cholecalciferol in dogs and cats is ingestion of rodenticide baits with vitamin D3 as the active ingredient. Other sources of this toxin are human medications and rarely, contaminated pet food. Although the reported lethal dose 50% for cholecalciferol is 88 mg/kg, deaths have been seen with an individual exposure of 2 mc g/kg in dogs. Clinical signs are induced by profound hypercalcemia affecting multiple body systems. Clinical presentations may include anorexia, depression, muscle weakness, vomiting, polyuria, polydipsia, dehydration, abdominal pain, hematemesis, melena, and bradycardia. Tissue mineralization may develop if calcium × phosphorous product is greater than 60. Serum testing for hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and decreased serum parathyroid hormone are confirmatory. Initial treatment relies upon decontamination with emesis induction followed by administration of pulse-dose activated charcoal designed to interfere with the extensive enterohepatic recirculation of toxin. Medical management is designed to decrease serum calcium levels by use of intravenous fluid diuresis with administration of furosemide and prednisolone. Biphosphate pamidronate is used to inhibit calcium release from the bone. Phosphate binders aid in decreasing phosphate availability to interact with calcium. The prognosis is better if treatment is instituted early before development of hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia enables tissue mineralization to progress.

Topics: Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Cholecalciferol; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Hypercalcemia; Pets; Poisoning; Rodenticides

Over 650 pigs died within a couple hours in a fattening unit with approximately 3,000 fattening spaces. The pigs showed vomiting, dyspnea, kyphosis, sunken flanks, diarrhea, and polyuria. Another striking symptom of the pigs, besides the apathy, was the aphonia, due to the calcification of the vocal cords. An acute vitamin D3-intoxication was found to be the cause. The pathologic findings, especially the histologic detection of calcification processes of the soft tissues, lead to the suspect of an intoxication with a vitamin D-like substance. Between 39,000 and 196,000 IU/kg of vitamin D3 have been detected in a ready-to-use food mix. 8.8 million IU/kg of crystaline vitamin D3 were found in an open whey bag. An explanation how vitamin D came into the bag could not be clarified to this point.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Calcinosis; Cholecalciferol; Poisoning; Swine; Swine Diseases; Vocal Cords

A case of sarcoidosis is described which presented with hypercalcaemia and renal insufficiency. Initially, a calciol intoxication was diagnosed, because a high daily intake was suspected. However, vitamin D3 metabolites in the blood revealed normal concentrations of calcidiol, but extremely high concentrations of calcitriol. These features rejected the first diagnosis and pointed to high endogenous calcitriol production, which may take place in granulomatous diseases. This is caused by an increased 1-alpha-hydroxylation reaction in activated macrophages. Eventually, muscle biopsy revealed non-caseating granulomas, confirming the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

Topics: Aged; Calcitriol; Cholecalciferol; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Muscles; Poisoning; Renal Insufficiency; Sarcoidosis

The paper investigated the changes of rabbit's tooth and jaw tissues by vitamin-D poisoning experiment. The results showed the dentin, periodontium, jaw bone and long bone of rabbit were all changed. X-ray showed subperiosteum absorbation and periosteum reaction. The mineral content of the rabbit's epiphysis and long bone diaphysis in experiment group were lower than that of control group. The histopathological findings were irregular hyperplasia of dentin, arrange disturbance of periodontal fibers, absorbation of the alveolar bone and mal-ossification of long bones. The above changes were more significant during 30-45 days of rabbit poisoning, after 60 days of poisoning the above signs were gradually released.

Topics: Animals; Bone and Bones; Bone Density; Bone Development; Cholecalciferol; Dentin; Drug Overdose; Jaw; Periodontium; Poisoning; Rabbits; Radiography

Topics: Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Cholecalciferol; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Poisoning; Rodenticides

Topics: Cholecalciferol; Cholestanes; Humans; Poisoning; Vitamin D; Vitamins