Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning in calves - case report

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim was to report two cases of accidental Brodifacum poisoning in calves on a dairy farm. The animals presented a variable clinical picture of bleeding disorders with melena, epistaxis, orthopneic position, severe dyspnea, productive cough, coarse lung crackles, and expiratory groans. The male died, the female was euthanized, and both were sent for necropsy. The anatomopathological findings revealed a predominantly bleeding diathesis in the animals. During the investigation, blood serum, liver and kidney samples were collected for toxicologic measurement, which revealed concentrations of coumarin derivatives < 0.100µg/kg in all samples. The combination of history, clinical-pathologic findings, and toxicologic results confirmed the diagnosis.

Keywords

• rodenticides
• poisoning
• brodifacum
• coagulopathies
• ruminants