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The symptoms of poisoning vary depending on substance, the quantity a dog has consumed, the breed and size of the mammal.A common list of symptoms are digestion problems, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or blood in stool; bruising and bleeding gums, nose, or inside the ear canal; behavioral changes, such as lethargy, hyperactivity, and seizures; unusual items found in the dog's stool.
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) is a polychlorinated dibenzofuran with a chemical formula of C 12 H 4 Cl 4 O. TCDF is part of the chlorinated benzofuran (CDF) family that contains between 1 and 8 chlorine atoms attached to the parent dibenzofuran ring system. The CDF family includes 135 compounds, of which only a few have been studied.
Dibenzofuran is a heterocyclic organic compound with the chemical structure shown at right. It is an aromatic compound that has two benzene rings fused to a central furan ring. All the numbered carbon atoms have a hydrogen atom bonded to each of them.
The toxicity of the individual congeners may vary by orders of magnitude. With the TEFs, the toxicity of a mixture of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds can be expressed in a single number – the toxic equivalency (TEQ). It is a single figure resulting from the product of the concentration and individual TEF values of each congener. [1]
Polychlorinated dibenzofurans with chlorines at least in positions 2,3,7 and 8 are much more toxic than the parent compound dibenzofuran, with properties and chemical structures similar to polychlorinated dibenzodioxins. These groups together are often inaccurately called dioxins.
Today, concentrations of dioxins are found in all humans, with higher levels commonly found in persons living in more industrialized countries. The most toxic dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), became well known as a contaminant of Agent Orange, a herbicide used in the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War. [11]
Other treatments are useful to treat the other symptoms of poisoning: positive pressure ventilation if respiratory distress is present, fluid therapy to support blood pressure and maintain hydration and renal function, and gastrointestinal protectants. It may also be necessary to control aggressive behaviour and convulsions with tranquilizers. [34]
By far most information on toxicity of dioxin-like chemicals is based on animal studies utilizing TCDD. [4] [8] [35] [36] Almost all organs are affected by high doses of TCDD. In short-term toxicity studies in animals, the typical effects are anorexia and wasting, and even after a huge dose animals die only 1 to 6 weeks after the TCDD ...