Clinical and Pathological Effects of Fluoride Toxicity in Animals

Sodium Fluoride/Copper Naphthenate Toxicosis in Cattle

“…However, because ingested fluoride is rapidly excreted by the kidney, 9 significant accumulation in soft tissues is not expected 5 , 8 , 11 . In chronic poisoning, only small amounts of fluoride (less than 2.5 ppm) were retained in the soft tissues of cattle receiving up to 93 ppm sodium fluoride for 7.5 years; kidneys had more fluoride than other soft tissues 18 . Although fluoride does pass into the placenta, 18 high concentrations of fluoride were not found in tissues from the single fetus that was analyzed in this study.…”

“…Hypochloridemia often parallels hyponatremia 6 . Ulceration of the abomasal or omasal mucosa was present in Cows 1 and 2; this ulceration may have been directly caused by sodium fluoride 15 , 18 , 21 . In the stomach, sodium fluoride dissociates into fluoride ions and combines with hydrogen ions to form hydrofluoric acid, which causes gastric mucosal lesions 13 .…”

“…Fluoride poisoning of livestock is reported most commonly to occur via chronic exposure to environmental sources. The most frequently encountered sources of excessive fluoride in the diet are forages contaminated by industrially emitted fluoride, water with naturally high fluoride concentrations, feed supplements and mineral mixtures with excessive fluoride, and forages contaminated by soil with a high fluoride content 18 . Chronic fluoride poisoning primarily manifests as osteo-fluorosis and dental fluorosis 18 .…”

“…The most frequently encountered sources of excessive fluoride in the diet are forages contaminated by industrially emitted fluoride, water with naturally high fluoride concentrations, feed supplements and mineral mixtures with excessive fluoride, and forages contaminated by soil with a high fluoride content 18 . Chronic fluoride poisoning primarily manifests as osteo-fluorosis and dental fluorosis 18 . Sodium fluoride in higher doses can cause acute death in cattle, 2 , 4 although there are few reports of acute sodium fluoride toxicosis in the veterinary literature.…”

Fluoridated ground water and its toxic effects on domesticated animals residing in rural tribal areas of Rajasthan, India

“…Besides [22], other factors such as the local temperature and humidity, dissolved salts in drinking water and the involvement of fluoridated food chains may accelerate the prevalence and severity of fluoride toxicity. Thus, field investigations and more surveys are still necessary to ensure the correct assessment of possible fluoride intoxication and to determine the tolerance or susceptibility of various animal …”