Purpose
This flowchart provides rapid decision-making guidance when poisoning is suspected. Print in large format and post in your barn, truck, and office for emergency reference. Every minute counts in many poisoning situations.
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MAIN RESPONSE FLOWCHART
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ANIMAL FOUND SICK/DEAD │ │ POISONING SUSPECTED │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ STEP 1: ASSESS SEVERITY │ │ Is animal: Seizing? Collapsed? Not breathing? Severe distress? │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ┌─────────────┴─────────────┐ │ │ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ YES │ │ NO │ │ CRITICAL EMERGENCY │ │ Continue Assessment │ └────────────┬────────────┘ └─────────────┬───────────────┘ │ │ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ → Call vet IMMEDIATELY │ │ STEP 2: IDENTIFY SOURCE │ │ → Remove other animals │ │ │ │ → Do NOT move severely │ │ Do you know what animal │ │ affected animal │ │ was exposed to? │ │ → Provide basic support │ │ │ │ → Have info ready │ │ │ └─────────────────────────┘ └─────────────┬───────────────┘ │ ┌─────────────┴─────────────┐ │ │ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐ │ YES │ │ NO │ │ Source Identified │ │ Source Unknown │ └────────────┬────────────┘ └────────────┬────────────┘ │ │ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐ │ Go to SPECIFIC TOXIN │ │ → Document symptoms │ │ flowchart below │ │ → Collect samples │ │ │ │ → Search pasture/feed │ │ │ │ → Call vet for help │ │ │ │ identifying cause │ └─────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────┘ ```
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SPECIFIC TOXIN RESPONSE TREES
A. PLANT POISONING (General)
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ PLANT POISONING SUSPECTED │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ IMMEDIATE ACTIONS: │ │ 1. Remove all animals from pasture/area │ │ 2. Call veterinarian │ │ 3. Collect plant sample (paper bag) │ │ 4. Photograph plant in place │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Can you identify the plant? │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ┌─────────────┴─────────────┐ │ │ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ YES │ │ NO │ └────────────┬────────────┘ └─────────────┬───────────────┘ │ │ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ → Tell vet plant name │ │ → Describe plant to vet │ │ → Check specific │ │ → Send photo to extension │ │ treatment below │ │ → Keep sample refrigerated │ │ → Follow vet guidance │ │ → Follow general support │ └─────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘ ```
B. CYANIDE (Sorghum, Cherry, etc.)
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ CYANIDE SUSPECTED (Sorghum, Cherry, Johnson grass after frost) │ │ │ │ SIGNS: Sudden onset, bright red blood, rapid collapse │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ⚠️ EXTREME EMERGENCY ⚠️ │ │ Death can occur in MINUTES │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ IMMEDIATE: │ │ 1. Remove from source NOW │ │ 2. CALL VET - Antidote needed (sodium thiosulfate) │ │ 3. Keep animal CALM - stress accelerates death │ │ 4. DO NOT walk animal │ │ 5. Vet may give sodium nitrite + sodium thiosulfate IV │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ WITHOUT ANTIDOTE: Mortality very high │ │ WITH PROMPT TREATMENT: Recovery possible │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
C. UREA/NPN TOXICITY
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ UREA/NPN TOXICITY SUSPECTED │ │ │ │ SIGNS: Bloating, tremors, frothing, incoordination │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ⚠️ EXTREME EMERGENCY ⚠️ │ │ MINUTES MATTER │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ YOU CAN START TREATMENT BEFORE VET ARRIVES: │ │ │ │ ★ VINEGAR DRENCH ★ │ │ → Give 1-2 QUARTS white vinegar orally │ │ → Use stomach tube or drench bottle │ │ → Can repeat in 15-30 minutes │ │ │ │ ALSO: │ │ → Cold water drench (5-10 gallons) │ │ → Remove feed source │ │ → Call vet │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
D. ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDE
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ RODENTICIDE POISONING SUSPECTED │ │ │ │ SIGNS: Bleeding from nose, gums, urine, feces; weakness │ │ NOTE: Signs appear 3-7 DAYS after exposure │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ACTIONS: │ │ │ │ 1. Keep animal QUIET (activity increases bleeding) │ │ 2. Call vet │ │ 3. ★ ANTIDOTE: Vitamin K1 ★ │ │ → 1-2 mg/kg body weight │ │ → May need treatment for 3-6 WEEKS │ │ 4. Do NOT use vitamin K3 (menadione) │ │ 5. Identify and secure rodenticide source │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
E. NITRATE POISONING
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ NITRATE POISONING SUSPECTED │ │ │ │ SIGNS: Chocolate-brown blood, rapid breathing, weakness │ │ SOURCE: Stressed forages, pigweed, fertilized hay │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ URGENT - CALL VET IMMEDIATELY │ │ │ │ ★ ANTIDOTE: Methylene blue ★ │ │ → Must be given IV by veterinarian │ │ → Time-sensitive treatment │ │ │ │ WHILE WAITING: │ │ → Remove from feed source │ │ → Keep animal calm │ │ → Provide fresh water │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
F. OLEANDER / CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ OLEANDER/CARDIAC POISONING SUSPECTED │ │ │ │ SIGNS: Irregular heartbeat, weakness, sudden death possible │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ⚠️ EXTREME EMERGENCY ⚠️ │ │ SMALL AMOUNTS CAN BE FATAL │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ACTIONS: │ │ │ │ 1. CALL VET IMMEDIATELY │ │ 2. Keep animal calm and quiet │ │ 3. Activated charcoal if recent ingestion (vet may provide) │ │ 4. Specific antidote (Digibind) available - vet administered │ │ 5. Cardiac monitoring essential │ │ 6. Remove all other animals from source │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
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DECISION TREE: UNKNOWN TOXIN
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ SYMPTOMS PRESENT BUT CAUSE UNKNOWN │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ PRIMARY SYMPTOM? │ └───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ┌──────────────────┼──────────────────┐ │ │ │ ▼ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │ NEUROLOGICAL│ │ RESPIRATORY │ │ DIGESTIVE │ │ (staggering,│ │ (labored │ │ (bloat, │ │ seizures, │ │ breathing, │ │ diarrhea, │ │ blindness) │ │ distress) │ │ colic) │ └──────┬──────┘ └──────┬──────┘ └──────┬──────┘ │ │ │ ▼ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ CONSIDER: │ CONSIDER: │ CONSIDER: │ │ • Locoweed │ • Perilla mint │ • Oak │ │ • Lead │ • Cyanide │ • Pigweed │ │ • Organophosph. │ • Nitrate │ • NPN/urea │ │ • Sulfur/PEM │ • Smoke │ • Moldy feed │ │ • Water hemlock │ │ • Hardware │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ FOR ALL UNKNOWN CAUSES: │ │ 1. Remove from current environment │ │ 2. Call veterinarian with symptom description │ │ 3. Collect any potential source samples │ │ 4. Document timeline and all symptoms │ │ 5. Check other animals for similar signs │ │ 6. Provide supportive care while waiting │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
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QUICK REFERENCE: WHAT TO TELL THE VET
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ INFORMATION FOR VETERINARIAN │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ "I have a [species] [age/weight] showing [main symptoms] │ │ that started at [time]." │ │ │ │ "I think they may have been exposed to [suspected source]." │ │ │ │ "[Number] animals are affected." │ │ │ │ "I have [removed them/not moved them] from the area." │ │ │ │ "Current status: [stable/worsening/improving]." │ │ │ │ "I'm located at [address/directions]." │ │ │ │ "Call me back at [phone number]." │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
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SAMPLE COLLECTION QUICK GUIDE
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ SAMPLES TO COLLECT │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ PLANTS: Paper bag → Refrigerate │ │ FEED/HAY: Paper bag → Dry storage │ │ WATER: Clean jar → Refrigerate │ │ VOMITUS: Plastic container → Refrigerate │ │ FECES: Plastic bag → Refrigerate │ │ │ │ LABEL EVERYTHING: │ │ • Date/time collected │ │ • Source location │ │ • Your name/contact │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
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EMERGENCY CONTACTS (Fill In and Post)
``` ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ EMERGENCY CONTACTS │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ VETERINARIAN: _____________________________ │ │ │ │ EMERGENCY/AFTER HOURS: ____________________ │ │ │ │ ASPCA POISON CONTROL: (888) 426-4435 │ │ │ │ TEXAS A&M TVMDL: (979) 845-3414 │ │ │ │ COUNTY EXTENSION: _________________________ │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
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PRINT INSTRUCTIONS
- 24" × 36" for barn poster
- Laminate for durability
- Post at eye level in high-traffic areas
- [ ] Working facility
- [ ] Feed storage area
- [ ] Ranch truck(s)
- [ ] House/office
Download Options
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