Toxicology myths can lead to overtesting and overtreatment

Veterinary toxicologist Renee Schmid is using Pet Poison Prevention Month to push back on a familiar problem in practice: toxicology cases are often treated as if every ingestion needs the same workup, hospitalization plan, and diagnostics. In a March 3 Vet Blast Podcast episode from dvm360, Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, senior veterinary toxicologist and director of veterinary medicine at Pet Poison Helpline, said clinicians should “treat the patient, not the toxin,” emphasizing that risk depends on the substance, dose, timing, clinical signs, and the individual animal, not just the exposure label alone. The discussion focused on common misconceptions around when to induce emesis, when activated charcoal is useful, when hospitalization is necessary, and when lab work adds little value. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the message lands squarely in the ongoing spectrum-of-care conversation. Schmid argued that reflexively ordering CBC, chemistry, urinalysis, or clotting tests in every suspected ingestion can add cost and stress without improving care, especially in cases where expected abnormalities are unlikely or where testing is done too early to be clinically meaningful, such as anticoagulant rodenticide exposures shortly after ingestion. That matters in a field where poison-control specialists are handling enormous case volume: ASPCA Poison Control says it responds to more than 400,000 calls per year, while Pet Poison Helpline describes itself as a 24/7 service for pet parents and veterinary professionals and says its per-incident fee includes follow-up for the duration of the case. (dvm360.com)

What to watch: Expect more emphasis on individualized toxicology triage, poison-center consultation, and practical outpatient protocols as clinics look for ways to balance patient safety, client cost concerns, and workflow pressure. (dvm360.com)