Top Mistakes Made in the First Five Minutes of a Toxicology Case and How to Fix Them!

The first few minutes at the vet hospital can be critical for toxicology cases. Decontamination and providing stabilizing care should be prompt, but it can be difficult to assess if and when they are needed. We’ll explore some of the most common errors that can potentially lead to complications, adversely affect patient outcomes, or simply may be unnecessary. We will discuss the importance of when and how to obtain a thorough toxicologic history and the importance of promptly evaluating toxicology patients, treating serious or life-threatening clinical signs (sometimes even before the toxin is known), and quickly decontaminating these patients when appropriate.