Vet Blast podcast tackles persistent myths in toxic ingestions

dvm360’s Vet Blast Podcast devoted its March 3 episode to a familiar clinical problem with a persistent twist: toxic ingestions are common, but the assumptions around them are often wrong. In the episode, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, spoke with Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, director of veterinary medicine and senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline, about common misconceptions in veterinary toxicology, including when emesis is appropriate, whether activated charcoal is useful, and when hospitalization is actually needed. The discussion builds on Schmid’s longer-running public education work around toxicology myths, especially the risks of relying on internet advice, home remedies, or one-size-fits-all rules. (music.amazon.in)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the takeaway is less about any single toxin and more about triage discipline. Pet Poison Helpline explicitly advises against inducing vomiting or giving home antidotes without case-specific guidance, underscoring how exposure type, dose, formulation, timing, and species all shape management. That matters as clinics continue seeing high call volumes tied to everyday foods, human medications, and increasingly, palatable veterinary drugs such as Apoquel and other JAK inhibitors, which Pet Poison Helpline flagged as a growing overdose concern in its 2025 annual report. (petpoisonhelpline.com)

What to watch: Expect more emphasis on poison-control partnerships, client education, and practical toxicology CE as toxicologists continue warning that misinformation, not just toxicants, is driving preventable harm. (dvm360.com)