![]() and Enterobacter cloacae, which were likely due to postmortem invasion and bacterial overgrowth rather than representing primary pathogens. Aerobic culture of select internal viscera yielded light to heavy mixed growth of Streptococcus spp. There was no indication of infection or inflammation in the examined tissues. Postmortem X-rays did not reveal any indication of trauma. There were no other significant gross internal or external lesions. ![]() Throughout the stomach and intestines, the serosa was variegated pale to dark red. The stomach was markedly distended with partially digested dog food pellets and fetid gas, and there was a moderate amount of partially digested food within the small and large intestines. Moderate amounts of dark red frothy fluid filled the tracheobronchial tree. The lungs were collapsed (atelectatic) and mottled dark red to black. The right ventricular free wall was moderately dilated and turgid. The heart was markedly enlarged with circumferential thickening of the left ventricular free wall and at the base, there was a prominent indentation. Along the dorsolateral aspect of the torso and within the inguinal regions, fat lobules featured superficial hemorrhage. The animal was well-muscled and there were abundant subcutaneous and visceral fat stores. The third bottle was prescription-based, containing the active ingredient Ran-Zopiclone. Two bottles were over-the-counter sleep aids containing the active ingredient diphenhydramine. Instead, there were 3 empty bottles of sleep aid discovered at the scene. The owner had died from blunt force trauma however, there was no outward evidence of trauma to the dog. The animal was found by police in its residence lying dead adjacent to its deceased owner. The body of a 10-year-old, male poodle-cross dog, weighing approximately 18 kg was submitted to the Animal Health Centre in Abbottsford, British Columbia, for necropsy. We report a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional forensic approach to the intoxication of a dog of advanced age with diphenhydramine, with examination of the underlying question of malicious intent. Intentional intoxication has also been reported with secondhand cannabis smoke blown into the face of small animals as an adolescent prank ( 4, 5). Drugs, or other chemical agents, that are intentionally introduced to animals are commonly supplied in the context of a meal, treat, or drink to reduce texture and palatability inhibitions. There may be instances, though, whereby an owner symptomatically treats a pet with their own medication if they think the animal is unwell or in pain (e.g., paracetamol, ibuprofen, or naproxen), thus leading to an unintended consequence. Medications, whether over-the-counter (OTC) or prescribed, contribute to companion animal fatalities however, these poisoning events often result from accidental exposure due to ease of accessibility and lack of adequate supervision ( 3). Examples include food bowls tainted with ethylene glycol and hot dogs or meat patties contaminated with restricted use pesticides or drugs.Ĭompanion animal poisonings have also been reported to involve household products and drugs for veterinary and human use ( 2). Intentional poisonings differ in that the poison is purposefully introduced into the animal’s environment, out of the normal context in which the substance resides. ![]() Accidental exposure to these agents results from unbridled roaming, indiscriminate oral evaluation of the environment, and access to human food and supplements. Most poisonings occur within a narrow range of chemical agents, including anticoagulant rodenticides, ethylene glycol, organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, strychnine, and caffeine and other methylxanthines ( 1). In addition, there is difficulty in discerning between ease of accessibility to the offending agent (i.e., in accidental poisonings) and intentional introduction of those agents to the animal’s environment (i.e., intentional poisoning). ![]() In part, this is because of the vast number and types of chemical agents that may be employed. Establishing whether the poisoning event was malicious, however, is difficult. Poisoning of animals with chemical agents is commonplace.
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