Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

VIRBAC LETHABARB EUTHANASIA INJECTION

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Injectable rapid euthanasia agent for dogs and cats.

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Toxic if swallowed.
Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Side effects of barbiturates include slow, shallow breathing, pin-point pupils, weak pulse, low blood pressure and sometimes a skin reaction. A red rash sensitive to light may occur with spots. There may be small skin hemorrhages, blisters and crusting, with tissue death. High doses of barbiturates may result in involuntary jerking of the eyeballs, inco-ordination and loss of judgment. Overdose may cause prolonged coma, depression of the heart and breathing, and kidney failure due to low blood pressure and shock. Death may result, usually after several hours to days, due to respiratory arrest or paralysis. Incidental exposure carries the same risks as treatment with barbiturates in work settings. Persons with a psychiatric history taking drugs should be monitored carefully as they are more prone to dependence and addiction. Side effects of sleeping medication include drowsiness, dizziness, light-headedness and inco-ordination and alcohol can increase them. Drug dependency can occur after a few weeks of nightly administration. Withdrawal of the drug is associated with a range of unpleasant effects and severity; it can also cause rebound insomnia where the symptoms are worse than before. Rarely, behavior changes may follow administration of sleeping drugs. If used late in pregnancy it can sedate the fetus.  

EYE

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  The material may produce severe irritation to the eye causing pronounced inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons.  Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects, however the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition.  The alkaline nature of barbiturates can cause tissue death afterinjection.  The material may cause severe skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin. Repeated exposures may produce severe ulceration.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Although inhalation is not thought to produce harmful effects, the material may still produce health damage, especially where pre-existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally confined to doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-  health).  Not normally a hazard due to non-volatile nature of product.  Acute effects from inhalation of high vapor concentrations may be chest and nasal irritation with coughing, sneezing, headache and even nausea.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact and by inhalation of vapors especially at higher temperatures.  Barbiturates cause an alcoholism-like syndrome when used long term. Symptoms include disorientation, mental confusion, inco-ordination, dizziness, depression and skin rashes. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe with epileptic seizures and delirium. Tolerance may develop.