Lead poisoning in small companion animals: an update (1987-1992).
Eighty-five cases of lead poisoning in small companion animals were retrospectively studied. Records from a lead toxicosis monitoring program at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Boston MA were reviewed from 1987 through 1992. The number of cases of lead poisoning substantially declined from the previous 6 y. Affected animals included 53 dogs, 20 birds, 8 cats, 3 rabbits and 1 iguana. Ages ranged from 0.3-48 y, with a median age of 1.5 y. Gastrointestinal and neurologic signs predominated. Blood lead concentrations ranged from 40-620 micrograms/dl. Seventy-three animals were successfully treated with chelation therapy; 7 animals required repeated treatments. Paint was identified as the most common source (32.4%) of lead exposure. Seventy of the 85 affected animals originated from the greater Boston area. Fifty-seven percent of the cases located within the Boston city limits could be traced to 3 inner city neighborhoods.
Morgan
R V
RV
Department of Urban Practice, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901.
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010150:Paint; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D012104:Reptiles; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007854:Lead; D010396:Penicillamine