Читать книгу Canine and Feline Epilepsy - Luisa De Risio - Страница 143

Clinical signs generally occur within 10 min to 2 h after toxin ingestion and typically begin with nervousness and restlessness, rapidly progressing to increased tone of both extensor and flexor muscles resulting in a stiff gait. All skeletal muscles including the appendicular, epaxial, facial, abdominal and respiratory muscles have tetanic spasms. Auditory (e.g. loud noise), visual (e.g. bright light) and tactile stimuli exacerbate the tetanic muscle spasms and can trigger tonic seizures. This feature, however, is not specific to strychnine and has been observed in other types of poisonings including metaldehyde, penitrem A, roquefortine and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Hyperthermia (secondary to the severe muscle contractions) is commonly observed. The animal remains conscious during seizures unless respiratory paralysis occurs. Apnea can lead to cerebral anoxia, loss of consciousness and death 30 min to 2 h following the onset of neurologic signs, if the animal is untreated (Murphy, 2002).