Clinical Veterinary Toxicologists Do?

 

A respected doctor, researcher and author, Dr. A. Morrie Craig is a former veterinary professor and a member of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. He obtained a PhD in biophysics, and has conducted postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology and the University of Oregon, Eugene. During his 40-year tenure, A. Morrie Craig specialized in toxicology, and worked in a lab that tested feed samples for farms throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Veterinary toxicology is an area of veterinary science that focuses on the various natural and synthetic toxins that can affect pets, wildlife, and farm animals. This discipline is crucial in a variety of industries, such as research, food safety, and chemical risk assessment in both the private and public sectors. Clinical toxicologists are those who work specifically in clinical research lab settings.

The major duties of a clinical toxicologist is to evaluate animals who are brought to the lab for poisoning tests. They have to diagnose what substance the animal has come in contact with, often narrowing down the possibilities by the location of exposure, and performing sample tests. Once they have identified the toxins, they prescribe antidotes and management solutions.

Another important role is to perform autopsies along with the pathologist on animals that may have died from poison. This is particularly important for domestic animals, like pets and livestock, since other creatures in the same environment may be at risk. Once toxicologists identify the cause of death, the farm or household in question can take steps to prevent other animals from being harmed.