CYANIDE INTOXICATION IN SHEEP - THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF OXYGEN OR COBALT

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 38  (2) , 223-227
Abstract
The combination of cobalt salts and O2 with the traditional sodium nitrite-sodium thiosulfate antidote may have value as cyanide antidotes. Results reported previously in mice were extended to sheep in the present experiments. Cobaltous chloride (15 mg/kg of body wt) or O2 with or without sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate were compared with respect to the LD50 of oral sodium cyanide. Although cobaltous chloride or O2 used alone did result in a significant increase in the LD50 of sodium cyanide in sheep, the protection was minor compared with the overall protection provided by the classic antidotal combination of sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate. Cobaltous chloride combined with sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate did not provide any increase in protection more than that observed with sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate alone. O2 used in combination with sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate did significantly increase the protection. The increase in protection was not of sufficient magnitude to recommend it as a practicable addition to the present therapeutic regimen. [Cyanide toxicity is a problem of livestock grazing range or pasture containing cyanogenic plants.].