Triage, History Taking, and Decontamination for the Intoxicated Exotic Animal Patient

This article discusses the approach to triage, obtaining a thorough patient and toxicologic history, and an update to decontamination techniques for common zoologic pet species. Special attention is given to considerations and resources that facilitate rapid assessment of the patient's exposure history to allow for prompt decontamination and treatment. Decontamination principles can be broadly applied across many species, and a comprehensive overview is provided of decontamination techniques in exotic species based on the exposure route.