Festive Fatalities

Mistletoe poisoning is rare - but it does occur in dogs, horses and cattle - particularly over Christmas and New Year. In dogs it is frequently fatal and follows the ingestion of large numbers of the berries during the winter months.

Signs

• salivation
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• polyuria
• bradycardia or tachycardia
• ataxia
• siezures
• mydriasis
• neurological hypersensitivity
• hypotension
• dyspnoea
• haemolysis
• shock
• coma
• death

Cause

Viscotoxins - long-chain polypeptides

Treatment

Gastric lavage, adsorbents or demulcents.

Symptomatic - no specific antidote. Atropine if bradycardia. Fluids and electrolytes.

DO NOT give digitalis drugs. 

Updated October 2013