title: Clinical and pathological findings of acute zinc intoxication in a puppy.
abstract: This report describes the clinical and pathological findings in a case of acute zinc poisoning in a young dog. The puppy suffered four days of progressively more severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Jaundice and pale mucous membranes, severe haematemesis and haemoglobinuria were other findings. Despite intensive therapy, the dog died a few hours after hospitalisation. Postmortem examination revealed a metallic foreign body in the stomach, catarrhal gastritis, hepatomegaly and enlarged, dark kidneys. Histology showed hepatic centrilobular vacuolar degeneration, haemoglobinuric nephrosis with early tubular necrosis, haemosiderosis and extramedullary haematopoiesis, as well as neuronal damage. The foreign body was mainly composed of zinc. Plasma zinc values were markedly raised (34.5 microg/ml; normal range 0.8 to 1.0 microg/ml). Pathophysiological mechanisms of zinc poisoning are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Bologna, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 1-40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gandini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bettini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pietra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mandrioli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carpenè
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000662:veterinary; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004285:Dogs; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc