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74 PRACTICAL TOXICOLOGY Ethanol Toxicosis: A Review Tina Wismer, DVM, DABVT, DABT ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, Urbana, Illinois PRACTICAL TOXICOLOGY Although we mostly think of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) as the alcohol used in beverages, it is also found in other substances: liquid medications, cosmetics, hand sanitizers, perfumes, colognes, mouthwashes, food flavorings (eg, vanilla extract), alcohol-filled chocolates, and fermenting yeast bread dough. Ethanol is produced from fermentation of sugar, cellulose, or starch, which is why ingestion of raw yeast dough causes intoxication. 1 Although ethanol is used to treat ethylene glycol toxicosis, ingestion of ethanol can be dangerous. Most animal exposures to ethanol result from beverages being left unattended. Alcoholic drinks made with milk or cream are especially attractive to pets. ETHANOL ABSORPTION Ethanol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. It enhances the inhibitory effects of gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABA-A receptor and competitively inhibits the binding of glycine at the N-methyl- d -aspartate receptor (it disrupts excitatory glutaminergic neurotransmission). 2 Ethanol also stimulates release of other inhibitory neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. Ethanol is absorbed rapidly and completely from the stomach, small intestine, and colon. In humans, 80% Welcome to Practical Toxicology , brought to you in partnership between Today's Veterinary Practice and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) ( aspcapro.org/poison ). This column provides practical clinical information about diagnosing and treating pets that have been exposed to potentially harmful substances. The APCC: • Provides 24-hour diagnostic and treatment recommendations by specially trained veterinary toxicologists • Protects and improves animal lives through toxicology education, consulting services, and case data review • Developed and maintains AnTox, an animal toxicology database system that identifies and characterizes toxic effects of substances in animals • Works closely with human poison control centers to provide animal poisoning information • Offers extensive veterinary toxicology consulting to organizations in industry, government, and agriculture. If treating a patient that requires emergency care for poisoning, call the APCC at 888-426-4435. shutterstock.com/Nicki Mannix PRACTICAL TOXICOLOGY