16/09/2025
A reminder to any one rearing calves: lots of the products used for calf rearing contain coccidiostats.
Most milk powders, most calf meals, and probiotic additives contain coccidiostats. The common ones are Bovatec (lasalocid sodium) and Rumensin (monensin). They are really toxic to dogs (and horses). Dogs are particularly sensitive and the feed is often very palatable.
Poisoned dogs commonly present with neurological signs. Clinical signs begin within a few hours of ingestion, leading to paralysis. Weakness in all four limbs, salivation, high body temperature and difficulty breathing are the major symptoms in dogs, with some showing loss of tongue control, increased sensitivity to environmental stimuli and uneven pupil sizes.
There is no specific treatment for monensin or lasalocid toxicosis. Treatment is supportive, intensive and often unrewarding. In severe cases leading to respiratory paralysis, ventilation is required. Awareness and prevention is a much better option.
