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Thirty-six male mink were fed diets that contained 0, 1, 2 or 4% supplemental salt (sodium chloride) and were given drinking water ad libitum for 7 d. Three mink on each diet were then placed on ad libitum, 50% ad libitum or 25% ad libitum drinking water for the next 14 d. Ad libitum water consumption was directly proportional to the salt content of the diets. Feed consumption was inversely related to the level of dietary salt, although water restriction had a greater effect in reducing feed consumption than did the supplemental salt. The clinical signs of salt toxicity-water restriction observed were increased thirst, mild dehydration, decreased feed consumption, decreased body weight, rough coat, crusty nose and eyes, irritability in the early stage, and lethargy in the later stages. In general, serum and urinary sodium and chloride ion concentrations increased with increasing dietary salt concentrations. Expressed as a percent of brain weight, liver, spleen, kidney and heart weights of mink fed supplemental salt were less than the control weights. Adrenal gland weights increased in response to water restriction. Brain sodium concentrations were not affected by salt supplementation when drinking water was provided ad libitum. However, restricting drinking water generally resulted in increased brain sodium concentrations. Mild to moderate micro- or macrovesicular vacuolar changes were observed in the livers of some mink fed each level of dietary salt, but were especially prominent in the mink restricted in drinking water.

An aqueous extract of the heartwood of black walnut (Juglans nigra) was given via stomach tube to 10 horses. Eight developed Obel grade 3 or 4 laminitis within 12 hr. Limb edema and mild sedation were the only other clinical signs observed. One horse was euthanized due to severe signs. The other 7 recovered within 6 days. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of aqueous extracts of heartwood, bark and nuts of black walnut identified juglone in the bark and nuts, but not in the heartwood. It was concluded that the aqueous extract of heartwood is laminogenic to horses, but the active ingredient is not juglone.

Aliquots of a pooled serum sample (bovine) were agitated in Vacutainer tubes (serum or clot tubes) for 0, 2, 8 and 32 hr to determine if Vacutainer tubes had any effect on serum trace element concentrations. The sera were analyzed for Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Na and Zn by the inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectrometer. The Zn concentration in sera was significantly increased over time, and the Cu and Fe concentrations were significantly decreased. Most of these artifacts became apparent within the first 2 hrs of exposure to the Vacutainer tubes. Changes in Cu, Mg and Na concentrations were not detected.

T-61 is a commonly used euthanasic agent containing N-[2-[m-methoxyphenyl)-2-ethyl-buty1(1)]-gamma-hydroxybutyramid e (embutramide), 4,4'methylenebis(cyclohexyl-trimethylammonium iodide), and tetracaine hydrochloride. In order to confirm the exposure of animals and man to T-61, a procedure was developed for identification and quantification of embutramide in tissues and body fluids. Tissue was homogenized in acetonitrile (CH3CN) and the drug partitioned into methylene chloride (CH2Cl2) from aqueous CH3CN at neutral pH and at pH 9. The drug was purified by gel permeation chromatography in cyclohexane/CH2Cl2 (85:15). Embutramide was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on a 0.25 mm x 15 m fused silica capillary column of 0.25 micron DB-5, programmed from 215 to 275 degrees C at 25 degrees/min with El ionization at 70 ev. Quantification was selected ion monitoring of m/z 135, 190 and 293. Embutramide was examined in brain, lung, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, urine, bile, eye fluid and blood of bovine, canine, caprine, feline, ovine and porcine species.