ACIDS, STRONG

Animals most affected
Dogs (cats, all other species).

Etiology
Direct ingestion (particularly by dogs), inhalation, accidental splashing of acid-based products.
Baits containing strong acids have been used to poison dogs (e.g. sponges soaked in acid).

Toxicity
Corrosive agents, caustic if solutions of sufficiently high concentration. Severe dehydration of tissues (particularly with sulphuric acid).

Clinical features
If in contact with skin or mucous membranes:

burns, often accompanied by tissue erosion and ulceration;
brown or yellow discoloration of tissues (nitric acid).

Contact with eyes:

ulceration of the cornea, occasional destruction of eye tissue, opacity and blindness.

Inhaladon of fumes or acidic vapours:

severe dyspnoea, suffocation, respiratory distress;
pulmonary oedema;
cyanosis of the mucous membranes.

If ingested:

ulcerations, severe burns of the buccal and oropharyngeal mucosae, with intense pain;
vomiting, colic, diarrhoea;
shock, trembling, shivering;
death or survival, but latter with attendant risk of peritonitis, or cicatricial stenosing of the oesophagus and pylorus.

Lesions
erosion and ulceration of skin and mucous membranes;
enteritis, perforation of the gastrointestinal tract;
brown or yellow discoloration of those tissues in direct contact with the acid.

Treatment
Following ingestion
Do not induce vomiting, or perform gastric lavage;

neutralize with weak diluted bases (2% sodium bicarbonate, magnesium: oxide or hydroxide);
gastric demulcents, antacids, (aluminium hydroxide gel).

Following inhalation or injection

symptomatic treatment for shock, analgesia, administration of corticosteroids and antibiotics.

Following contact with the skin or mucous membranes

wash area with copious amounts of water (either with or without soap) taking care not to rub the area.

Following contact with the eye

irrigate well with running water, then with normal saline, instill anaesthetic drops.

Case summary

A Pinscher dog was playing with a container of toilet descaler (hydrochloric acid) and swallowed an unknown amount. The animal was taken as an emergency case to a veterinary surgery where it presented with intractable vomiting, foamy in appearance, and in a state of shock. Examination of the mouth revealed a cyanosed and burnt tongue (resembling cardboard and fibrous in aspect), in addition haematuria developed. Despite treatment, the animal died within a few hours.