1. Contact your vet and take your animal to the vet for treatment and stabilisation as soon as possible.
  2. In cases of dermal (skin) exposure, your vet may instruct you to perform dermal decontamination, depending on your pet’s current status.
  3. Bring the drug your pet has ingested, with its package insert and/or label for confirmation of the specific drug involved and calculation of dose ingested to give the vet an idea of the severity of toxicity and treatment plan.

OTHER NAMES

Preventic tick collar for dogs; Mitaban topical solution; Point-Guard; Taktic EC.

TOXICITY

MODERATE

CLINICAL SIGNS

Onset of clinical signs is 1-2 hours but the effects, especially sedation, may persist for 24-72 hours.

  • Lethargy, depression, sedation
  • Hypersalivation
  • Vomiting
  • Pale gums
  • Inappetence
  • Diarrhoea
  • Uncoordinated gait (ataxia)
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Low heart rate (bradycardia)
  • Difficulty breathing (dyspnoea)
  • Low body temperature (hypothermia)
  • Dilated pupils
  • Collapse

EFFECTS OF TOXICITY

The exact mechanism of toxicity of amitraz is not completely understood however it results in nervous system depression and sedation. It also affects the heart and inhibits release of insulin which can lead to high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia).

TREATMENT

If your pet has ingested an amitraz collar, your vet may either induce vomiting if it was ingested 2 hours ago, or try to retrieve it via endoscopy. Multiple doses of activated charcoal are given to absorb any more circulating drugs in the system. Supportive care (eg. intravenous fluids) and symptomatic treatment and monitoring can also be done by your vet. Drugs used to reverse alpha-2 adrenegic agonists, such as yohimbine and atipamazole, may reverse the sedation and bradycardia caused by amitraz. Multiple doses may be required.

REFERENCES

BSAVA (2012) BSAVA/VPIS Guide to Common Canine and Feline Poisons. Gloucester: BSAVA.

Fawcett A &Kelman M (2008) Amitraz toxicity in a dog following ingestion of amitraz-impregnated collar. Australian Veterinary Practitioner 38(4):142-145.