Chapter 8 - Pesticide Use in Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

This chapter discusses the pesticide used in veterinary medicine and their toxicity. Because of the need to control economically destructive pests, the use of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemicals on farm crops, buildings, and lands results in intentional or accidental exposure of our large and small domestic animals several times each year. The very nature of animals and animal husbandry practices make animals more susceptible to pesticide toxicity and death. Often, animals are intentionally sprayed with potent pesticides at fairly toxic concentrations. Protective materials for the body are not employed and a larger body surface area is exposed. The chapter discusses various causes of poisoning among various domestic animals and pesticide intoxication and mortality in non-target species, such as improper dosage or formulations, use of treated seeds as feeds, improper storage, accidental poisoning, and improper disposal. Various problems caused by pesticide poisonings such as acute toxicity, delayed neurotoxicities, and biological storage of pesticides have been studied. The treatment and management of pesticide toxicity vary with the species of animal involved and the type of offending pesticide.