Animal poisonings: the 10-year experience of a veterinary analytical toxicology laboratory

Data on 10-y of chemical toxicological analyses carried out in a veterinary laboratory in Barcelona, Spain for suspected wild and domestic animal poisonings are summarized. The 218 cases involved more than 1 million animals, some 7,500 of which died. Pesticides, especially insecticides (46.6%) and rodenticides (37.9%), were frequently involved. Strychnine (n = 11) and aldicarb (n = 10) were the most usual toxic agents in baits prepared for intentional poisonings; other cases involved pentachlorophenol, hexachlorocyclohexane or anticoagulant rodenticides. Service to veterinarians and others could be improved if a coordinated network of national and regional Animal Poison Centers were created.