title: A retrospective study of canine strychnine poisonings from 1998 to 2013 in Western Canada.
abstract: This study describes observations related to 93 cases of strychnine poisoning in dogs over a 16-year period in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. Epidemiological information describing age, gender, breed, and size of the dogs, geographical distribution of poisonings, and strychnine concentrations in tissue matrices were tabulated. The mortality in dogs poisoned with strychnine was 60.2%. Strychnine poisoning cases varied by year (P = 0.0012) and by season (P = 0.0005). The highest number of confirmed cases occurred in years 2000 and 2001. Poisonings occurred most frequently during the spring. There were no statistical differences related to age or gender, but older, male dogs appeared to be more commonly affected. Large dog breeds were most commonly affected. Strychnine was detected in multiple tissue matrices, including stomach contents, liver, urine, vomitus, and gastric washings. The study indicates that strychnine poisoning in the dog remains a common toxicosis in western Canada.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5B3 (Cowan); Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Blakley).
authors.forename: Vanessa E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5B3 (Cowan); Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Blakley).
authors.forename: Barry R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Blakley
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013331:Strychnine / Q000506:poisoning*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013331:Strychnine