Zinc toxicity

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Acute presentation, Age predisposition, Breed predisposition, Pathogenesis, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Gross autopsy findings, Histopathology findings, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Initial symptomatic treatment, Standard treatment, Monitoring, Subsequent management, Prevention, Control, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Rosalind Dalefield BVSc PhD DipABVT DipABT
Mr Alexander Campbell BSc

Introduction

  • Acute zinc poisoning is a relatively frequent cause of poisoning in dogs.
  • Potential sources include zinc-containing metal items such as galvanized nuts, nails, or staples, also jewelry and zippers. Zinc is present in many alloys (eg brass, bronze) and also in electrical fuses, storage batteries, and automotive parts.
  • Zinc oxide ointment may be toxic if regularly applied to and licked off the skin or if a dog chews on a tube of ointment. Severe toxicity is unlikely from single acute exposures to such ointments.
  • USA pennies minted after 1982 are 97.5% zinc.
  • Canadian pennies minted between 1997 and 2001 are 96% zinc.
  • UK £2 coins contain 20% zinc in the outer metallic ring; UK £1 coins contain 24.5% xinc & pre-1992 2p and 1p coints contained 2.5% zinc.
  • Euro coins currently contain no zinc.
  • Products containing zinc acetate, zinc sulphate or zinc undecylenate may cause zinc toxicosis.
  • Zinc is also found in calamine lotion, and in a variety of paints, suppositories, fertilizers, fungicides, antiseptics and shampoos.
  • Zinc dusts may pose a hazard to guard dogs in industrial settings.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

  • Abdominal pain.
  • Depression.
  • Vomiting/diarrhea.
  • Anemia with or without icterus.
  • Hematuria, proteinuria, uremia.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

  • Other causes of acute gastrointestinal disease.
  • Other causes of intravascular hemolysis including leptospirosis Leptospirosis , immune-mediated disease, and poisoning due to onions Allium species poisoning link , mustard, copper, paracetamol (acetaminophen) Paracetamol poisoning , propylene glycol or naphthalene.

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Prognosis is guarded.
  • Prognosis depends on the extent of damage to liver, and/or kidneys, and/or pancreas.
  • Prognosis is poor to grave if disseminated intravascular coagulation develops.

Expected response to treatment

  • Serum zinc levels typically drop dramatically if the zinc source (metallic object) is removed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Severe anemia.
  • Severe renal damage.
  • Severe liver damage.
  • Severe pancreatic damage.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Recent references from PubMed.
  • Gurnee C M & Drobatz K J (2007) Zinc intoxication in dogs: 19 cases (1991-2003). JAVMA 230 (8), 1174-1179 PubMed.
  • Hammond G M, Loewen M E, Blakley B R (2004) Diagnosis and treatment of zinc poisoning in a dog. Vet Hum Toxicol 46 (5), 272-275 PubMed.
  • Volmer P A, Roberts J, Meerdink G L (2004) Anuric renal filaure associated with zinc toxicosis in a dog. Vet Hum Toxicol 46 (5), 276-278 PubMed.
  • Gandini G et al(2002) Clinical and pathological findings of acute zinc intoxication in a puppy. JSAP 43 (12), 539-542 PubMed.
  • Richardson J A, Gwatlney-Brant S M, Villar D (2002) Zinc tocixosis form penny ingestion in dogs. Vet Med 97 (4), 96-99.

Other sources of information

  • Talcott P A (2006) Zinc. In: Small Animal Toxicology, Second Edition. Eds: M E Peterson and P A Talcott. Elsevier Inc, St Louis, MO. ISBN: 0-7216-0639-3.
  • Osweiler G D (1995) Toxicology. Philadelphia: Williams and Wilkins. ISBN: 0 6830 6664 1.

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