Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning

Overview

One of the most common serious poisonings in many regions, because the agents are everywhere: agricultural pesticides, household insecticide sprays and chalks, some older tick and flea preparations, and — the reason many cases present — deliberate poisoning of street dogs. Exposure can be by ingestion, by skin contact, or by inhalation. The toxin blocks the enzyme that switches nerve signals off, so everything fires at once: the classic picture is a dog drooling, urinating, defecating and tremoring with pinpoint pupils. This is an immediate emergency with a narrow window. Take the dog to a vet at once, and carry the product packaging if it is known — naming the agent changes what the vet can do. If the exposure was to the skin or coat, wash the dog thoroughly with mild detergent and lukewarm water while arranging transport, wearing gloves. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet instructs it. Specific antidotes and decontamination exist and are given by the vet; survival depends heavily on how quickly the dog reaches care.

What you would notice

• Drooling, streaming eyes and nose, urination and diarrhoea (all-taps-open)
• Pinpoint pupils
• Muscle twitching and tremors, progressing to seizures
• Laboured breathing; blue-tinged gums
• Weakness and collapse; a chemical smell on the coat or breath

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com)
• MSD Veterinary Manual (msdvetmanual.com)
• Indian Council of Medical Research (icmr.gov.in)

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