An outbreak of lead poisoning in dogs

An outbreak of lead toxicosis in working dogs on a sheep farm is described. The affected dogs exhibited neurological signs which appeared to be initiated by strenuous physical activity. Radiological examination and estimation of urinary delta aminolevulinic acid (U-ALA) was not found to be useful for clinical diagnosis but blood lead estimation was helpful in detecting and confirming dogs that were exposed to lead. Gross pathological lesions were absent in a lead poisoned dog. However, histopathological lesions were seen in brain and bone. Acid-fast lead inclusion were not detected in liver and kidney epithelial cells but were present in osteoclasts.