Sources and Symptoms of Animal Poisoning

Image Gallery Certain soil imbalances can lead to pasture grasses with too much of one mineral, which can be toxic to livestock. PHOTO: FOTOLIA/JOE GOUGH

If your livestock or pets are acting sick or strange, they may have been poisoned by a common toxin. This chart details the most common sources and symptoms of animal poisoning.

1. Water Contamination

Algae

• Occurs when dense bloom of blue-green algae produces potent neurotoxin.
• Causes convulsions and sudden death in livestock, wildlife and birds.
• Algae sampling and testing required to confirm poisoning.

Salt

• Occurs when animal ingests high concentrations of salt or is deprived of water, especially in hot weather or in cold weather when water freezes.
• Poultry, feeder pigs and ruminants are susceptible.
• Blindness, deafness or paralysis may result.

2. Soil Imbalances

Selenium

• Occurs when livestock consume high selenium content in forage on alkali soil found on Great Plains of U.S., western Canada and Mexico.
• In its most severe form, causes blindness and staggering. Can also cause cracked hooves and lameness.
• Soil testing recommended for diagnosis.

Molybdenum

• Caused by imbalance in copper/molybdenum ratios in soil, most common in western U.S.
• Ruminants, especially young cattle, are most susceptible.
• Causes severe scours and emaciation.

3. Feed Contamination

Gossypol

• Excess pigment found in cottonseed products causes cumulative toxicity.
• Immature ruminants and pigs are most susceptible.
• Prolonged exposure causes weight loss, weakness and loss of appetite.

Ammonia 

• Caused by abrupt addition of feed-grade urea or ammonium salts to the ruminant diet.
• Mature ruminants are most susceptible, as they convert nonprotein nitrogen to ammonia, which is toxic.
• Causes muscle tremors, weakness, difficulty breathing and death.

Mycotoxins 

• Worldwide problem caused by ingestion of moldy feed, corn, or certain varieties of mold-infected pasture grass and forage (e.g., fescue grass, rye, sweet clover).
• All species of livestock, horses and poultry are susceptible.
• Wide variety of signs are possible, including lameness, paralysis, listlessness, jaundice and internal bleeding.
• Feed analysis required to confirm toxicosis.

Fluoride 

• Found in feed-grade phosphates, well water with high levels of fluorine or airborne factory waste.
• Usually requires long-term exposure and results in abnormalities of the skeleton and teeth.
• Signs may include mottling and staining of the teeth or softening of bones.