Lead poisoning in small companion animals: an update (1987-1992)

Eighty-five cases of lead poisoning in small companion animals were retrospectively studied. Records from a lead toxicosis monitoring program at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Boston MA were reviewed from 1987 through 1992. The number of cases of lead poisoning substantially declined from the previous 6 y. Affected animals included 53 dogs, 20 birds, 8 cats, 3 rabbits and 1 iguana. Ages ranged from 0.3-48 y, with a median age of 1.5 y. Gastrointestinal and neurologic signs predominated. Blood lead concentrations ranged from 40-620 micrograms/dl. Seventy-three animals were successfully treated with chelation therapy; 7 animals required repeated treatments. Paint was identified as the most common source (32.4%) of lead exposure. Seventy of the 85 affected animals originated from the greater Boston area. Fifty-seven percent of the cases located within the Boston city limits could be traced to 3 inner city neighborhoods.