Effects of opium inhalation on physical and biochemical parameters of stray dogs in Kabul city, Afghanistan

Abstract

Background: Afghanistan is one of the biggest opium producing country in the world. There are more than a million drug addicts in the country, which most of them are living in public places. Stray dogs who lives with drug addicts are at highest risk of inhaling drugs Aim: Aim of this study is to evaluate changes in physical and biochemical parameters of stray dogs inhaling drugs. Methods: Total of 12 dogs were assigned into two groups of healthy and infected (stray dogs who inhale drugs) dogs. Physical and biochemical parameters of both groups were evaluated. Results: Subjective evaluation showed clinical changes such as congestion of conjunctiva in infected group. Biochemical examination showed significantly higher level of glucose (P<0.05) and total protein (P<0.01) in infected group compared to healthy group. The ratio of other biochemical parameters was slightly decreased as compare to healthy dogs. Conclusion: Drug inhalation can alter biochemical parameters like glucose and total protein in dogs.

Keywords

• addicts
• biochemical parameters
• opium
• physical parameters
• stray dogs