PULLMAN-- Washington State University veterinarians say they are shocked by the levels of a deadly chemical being found in meatballs left for dogs.
A meatball that killed a Spokane dog last week had the highest levels of strychnine they’ve ever seen. KREM 2 News was the only station allowed to see pictures of the testing process at WSU from the poisoned meatballs that killed three dogs in Spokane County.
Toxicologists at both WSU and the University of Idaho are feverishly working to test all of the deadly meatballs to try and determine what left three dogs dead around Spokane’s South Hill. The toxicologists are testing three more meatballs on Wednesday but the results will not be in until Thursday. But they say, if you know what you’re looking for, the poison is pretty obvious.
They are testing the meatballs covered with green dyed seeds. The seeds are most likely soaked in a common pesticide called strychnine. Patricia Talcott is one of the WSU toxicologists. She says even seeing the meatball itself she knew it was going to test high because there is so much seed material.
They first weigh out a sample and extract the poison with acid, then they put the liquid in small viles to test the concentration. Toxicologists have seen the neurotoxin used on family pets before, but never so much at once.
Strychnine was once used to kill pocket gofers, but can also kill dogs in 15 minutes. The dogs’ limbs go straight, their necks go back, and they are paralyzed. Then the dogs go into seizures and they suffocate. Because of this, the poison has been banned in most stores, except for exterminators or the product was brought years ago. Even if the product was bought 10 to 15 years ago it is still active and deadly.
