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Yew Toxicosis



AUTHOR: CAMILLE. DECLEMENTI



EDITOR: SAFDAR A. KHAN



1ST EDITION AUTHOR: TINA. WISMER



BASIC INFORMATIONimage



DEFINITION


Toxicosis resulting from accidental ingestion, typically by dogs, of dried or fresh yew plant material followed by development of vomiting, muscle weakness, seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, and death



EPIDEMIOLOGY


SPECIES, AGE, SEX: Dogs are more likely to be involved than cats; all breeds, ages, and both sexes are susceptible.



RISK FACTORS



• Yews are toxic both as green and dried plant material.

• All parts of the yew are toxic except for the red, fleshy fruit surrounding the hard seed. The hard seed coat is resistant to digestive enzymes. Clinical signs are unlikely if the seed is swallowed whole, but absorption from a cracked or partly chewed seed is possible.

• Taxus brevifolia contains only minimal concentrations of toxic alkaloids and therefore has lower toxic potential than other yews.


GEOGRAPHY AND SEASONALITY



• The most common ornamental yews are T. baccata (English yew) and T. cuspidata (Japanese yew).

• In the eastern United States, T. canadensis (American yew) is the most common native yew; in Florida, T. floridana is the most common native species; and in the western United States, T. brevifolia (Western or Pacific yew) is most frequently seen.

• Taxine content is often higher in the winter than in the summer.


CLINICAL PRESENTATION



HISTORY, CHIEF COMPLAINT



• History of exposure to dried or fresh plant material.

• Recent history of vomiting, with the presence of plant material noted in the vomitus.

• The onset of systemic clinical signs is extremely rapid (within 30 minutes to 3 hours post ingestion), and progression to death may happen within a few hours.

• In increasing degree of severity over time, the spectrum of clinical complaints includes vomiting, muscle weakness, seizures, coma, and death.


PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS



• Signs of abdominal pain

• Mydriasis

• Tachycardia or bradycardia (both occur fairly commonly with yew toxicosis)

• Hypotension

• Respiratory distress or arrest


ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY



• Taxus spp. (yew) are commonly used as ornamental evergreen shrubs (Japanese yew [Taxus cuspidata], English yew [Taxus baccata], American yew [Taxus canadensis], Chinese yew [Taxus chinensis], Pacific or Western yew [Taxus brevifolia], Florida yew [Taxus floridana]).
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Jul 24, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Y

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