Oleander Poisoning in Waterfowl and Bears

• Every part of the Oleander plant contains glycosides that affect the heart (Glycoside cardiotoxins).

• Nerium oleander - Oleander

• Glycoside cardiotoxins

Clinical signs

In Waterfowl

• Depression, weakness, diarrhoea, profuse salivation, muscular incoordination / ataxia, increased heart rate, impaired vision, progressive paresis, sometimes wing paralysis, recumbency.
• May be fatal.

(B13.46.w1, B102.40.w1)

In Bears

• In a three-year-old male Ursus americanus - American black bear at New Orleans Zoological Park:
  • Signs of severe gastroenteritis: repeated vomiting, frequent changes of position, and indications of severe pain, such as lying on its back with its limbs extended, and trying to grasp anything within reach.
  • Death within two days. 

  (J2.12.w4, J4.60.w1)

• Poisoning in an Ursus americanus - American black bear occurred due to a zoo visitor feeding oleander leaves to the bear. (J2.12.w4, J4.60.w1)
• Six grams of dried oleander plant was lethal to geese in 24 hours and three grams were lethal to ducks; toxicity in turkeys from eating young shoots. (B102.40.w1)

Pathology

In Waterfowl

• Post mortem examination of fatal cases may reveal gastroenteritis and liver degeneration, variable in degree.
• Proventriculus and ventriculus may contain oleander leaves.

• Cardiac lesions - multifocal loss of cardiac muscle striation and small intestinal lesions - occasional haemosiderin-containing macrophages in the proximal lamina propria have been described.

(B13.46.w1, B102.40.w1)

In Bears

• In a three-year-old male Ursus americanus - American black bear at New Orleans Zoological Park:
  • Stomach and duodenum empty, with a thickened wall and slate-colour to purple mucosa; several blood clots in the duodenum. (J4.60.w1)

Treatment

• Atropine sulphate.
• Emetic/gastric lavage to remove oleander from the stomach.
• Symptomatic treatment.

(B35.2.w6)

• History & Documentation
• Physical Examination of Birds
• Physical Examination of Mammals
• Necropsy of Birds
• Necropsy of Mammals
• Environmental Assessment
• Treatment and Care
• Environmental and Population Management
• Chapter 2 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen Collection and Preservation
• Chapter 3 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen shipment
• Appendix A - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Sample specimen history form

• Waterfowl
  • "Goslings" (B13.46.w1)
  • "Geese" and "ducks" (also chickens and turkeys) (B102.40.w1).
• Bears (Ursidae - Bears (Family))
  • Ursus americanus - American black bear