Diazinon Poisoning in Rabbits

In 1956, the United States registered the use of Diazinon as an insecticide. Trade names for Diazinon include Basudin, Dazzel, Gardentox, Kayazol, Knox Out, Nucidol, and Spectracide. Diazinon can also be found in combination with other pesticides such as pyrethrins, lindane, and disulfide. It is poisonous for cattle, sheep, goats, birds, rabbits, and humans.

  1. What is Diazinon

    • Diazinon is a non-systemic organophosphate insecticide. It is classified as a restricted use pesticide (RUP) and is only permitted for use by professional pest control companies. It is also used on farms to control a wide variety of sucking and leaf eating insects. It is available in several forms, such as seed dressings, granules, wettable powder, dust, and emulsion formulations. It was widely used for some time, but its use for residential interiors was withdrawn by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2002 and outdoor uses were cancelled in 2004. Diazinon is now only permitted for agricultural use and is currently limited to selected crops.

    Protecting rabbits

    • Empty Diazinon containers should always be discarded in trash containers to prevent small animals, such as rabbits, from climbing into them or lapping rainwater from them. Any spills should be cleaned up immediately, following precautionary measures, and disposed of in proper trash containers. In addition, do not store Diazinon near rabbit feed.

    Effects on rabbits

    • Clinical signs of acute exposure to Diazinon in rabbits include salivation, anorexia, coughing, urination and/or defecation, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain and distress, and vomiting. Head and body tremors, stiffness, weakness and paralysis generally follow. With excessive oral exposures, tachycardia may also occur. Central nervous system signs and symptoms may also be present. These include restlessness, hyperactivity, depressed respiration, anxiety, depression, seizures, and coma. Symptoms can occur within minutes of exposure or may take as long as 12 to 24 hours to develop. Fortunately, rabbits are not as sensitive to Diazinon poisoning as birds and fish, and can recover from lower level exposure if treatment is given promptly.

    Treatment

    • If Diazinon poisoning is suspected in the rabbit, remove it from the area where exposure took place. If the poisoning was due to direct contact with the skin, wash the skin thoroughly for 15 minutes and contact your veterinarian immediately. If the poison was ingested, the vet may induce vomiting or may lavage--wash--the stomach. He will also give antidotal medications specific to Diazinon poisoning. If the rabbit is having difficulty breathing, an oxygen tent may be used.

    Eating poisoned rabbits

    • Rabbits showing symptoms of Diazinon poisoning should not be eaten. Consumption of the rabbit meat would allow the poison to pass from the rabbit to the gastrointestinal tract of the human, where it is rapidly metabolized. On a few rare occasions, individuals who have been continuously exposed to high levels of Diazinon have died. Signs of acute Diazinon poisoning are dizziness, pupil constriction, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, and difficulty breathing.