Sr. Director, Veterinary Services & Sr. Clinical Toxicologist

Dr. Ahna Brutlag has been with the organization since 2004 and currently serves as the Director of Veterinary Services. She also holds an adjunct assistant professor appointment at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Brutlag received her veterinary degree (DVM) from the University of Minnesota and subsequently practiced small animal medicine in the Minneapolis area before pursing post-graduate training in veterinary toxicology. She completed a Master’s of Science in toxicology at the University of Minnesota and a professional externship at California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Brutlag is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Toxicology (ABT) and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology (ABVT)—a distinction shared by less than 80 people in North America. She is one the consulting editors for the toxicology textbook Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology (2011 and 2016). Dr. Brutlag has personally managed over 30,000 cases involving potentially poisoned pets and has authored multiple textbook chapters, scientific articles, and has lectured throughout North America in the field of small animal toxicology. The primary focus of her publications include rodenticide toxicosis, toxic plants, common pharmaceutical poisonings, toxic foods, and the safety of household products. She prefers to spend her free time reading fiction, expanding her culinary palate, and canoeing Minnesota’s many waterways.

Papers

Khorzad R, Lee JA, Whelan M, Brutlag AG, Martin EP, Miyahara L, Hovda LR. Baclofen toxicosis in dogs and cats: 145 cases (2004-2010). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2012;241(8):1059-1064.

Brutlag AG, Flint CTC, Puschner B. Iron intoxication in a dog consequent to the ingestion of oxygen absorber sachets in pet treat packaging. J Med Toxicol. 2012;8(1):76-79. DOI 10.1007/s13181-011-0201-3.

Brutlag AG, Hovda LH, Della Ripa M. Corneal ulceration in a dog following exposure to the defensive spray of a walkingstick insect (Anisomorpha spp.).  J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2011;21(4):382-386.

Fernandez AL, Lee JA, Brutlag AG, Hovda LR, Rahilly L, Engebretsen K. State of the art review. The use of intravenous lipid emulsions as an antidote in toxicology: a review.  J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2011;21(4):309-320.

Gray SL, Lee JA, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG. Zinc phosphide rodenticide toxicity in dogs: 362 cases (2004-2009). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011;239:646–651.

Kaplan MI, Lee JA, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG. Acute neurotoxicity due to accidental intravenous procaine penicillin G administration in 1 cat and 2 dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011;238:507-510.

Textbooks

Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Poppenga RH, Peterson, KL eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 2nd ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016. ISBN 9781119036548.

Osweiler GD, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Lee JA, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 1st ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. ISBN 978-0-8131-1985-3.

Abstracts

Brutlag AG, Kingston R, Forrester MB, Borron SW. Pet poisonings involving new, EPA-approved bromethalin rodenticides: Implications for pets and humans. Poster at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) 2013, Atlanta, GA. October 2, 2013. Clin Toxicol 2013;51:711.

Borron SW, Forrester MB, Kingston R, Brutlag AG. Bromethalin (BR) vs. long-acting anticoagulant (LAAC) rodenticides: A 10-year comparison of exposures and toxicity. Poster at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) 2013, Atlanta, GA. October 2, 2013. Clin Toxicol 2013;51:627-628.

Brutlag AG, Flint CTC, Puschner B. Iron intoxication in a dog consequent to the ingestion of oxygen absorber sachets in pet treat packaging. AAVLD Annual Conference Proceedings, Buffalo, NY. September, 2011:59.

Brutlag AG, Adams CM. Elevated serum iron concentrations following hand warmer ingestions in 4 dogs. Poster at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) 2011, Washington DC. September 25, 2011.  Clin Toxicol 2011;49:556.

Brutlag AG, Hovda LH, Della Ripa M. Corneal ulceration in a dog following walkingstick envenomation. Poster at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) 2008, Toronto, Canada. September 15, 2008. Clin Toxicol 2008;46(7):621-622.

Book Chapters

Brutlag AG. Cholecalciferol poisoning. In: Murphy L, ed. Large Animal Toxicology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in progress.

Brutlag AG. Dimercaprol (BAL). In: Plumb DC. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook. 9th ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2017.

Brutlag AG. Deferoxamine mesylate. In: Plumb DC. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook. 9th ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2017.

Brutlag AG. Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Toxicoses. In: Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC, and Cote E, eds. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 8th ed. St. Louis, MO: 2017.

Brutlag AG. Acids. In Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Poppenga RH, Peterson, KL eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 2nd ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.

Brutlag AG. Alkalis. In Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Poppenga RH, Peterson, KL eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 2nd ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.

Brutlag AG. Appendix 5, Topical Toxins: Common Human Dermatologic Preparations. In Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Poppenga RH, Peterson, KL eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 2nd ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.

Brutlag AG. Baclofen toxicosis. In: Tilley LP, Smith FWK, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline. 6th ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.

Brutlag AG. Marijuana toxicosis. In: Tilley LP, Smith FWK, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline. 6th ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.

Brutlag AG and Murphy M. Rodenticide toxicosis. In: Tilley LP, Smith FWK, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline. 6th ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.

Patel T and Brutlag AG. Drug Store Toxins in Small Animals. In: Plumb DC. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook. 8th ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015.

Brutlag AG. Antidepressants and anxiolytics. In: Bonagura JD, Twedt DC, eds. Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XV. 15th ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier, 2014.

Brutlag AG, Puschner B. Metaldehyde. In: Peterson ME and Talcott PA, eds. Small Animal Toxicology. 3rd ed.  St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier, 2013.

Puschner B, Brutlag AG. Approach to diagnosis and initial treatment of the toxicology case. In: Peterson ME and Talcott PA, eds. Small Animal Toxicology. 3rd ed.  St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier, 2013.

Brutlag AG. Acids. In: Osweiler GD, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Lee JA, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 1st ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

Brutlag AG. Alkalis. In: Osweiler GD, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Lee JA, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 1st ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

Brutlag AG and Adams C. Appendix 4, Topical Toxins: Common Human Dermatologic Preparations. In: Osweiler GD, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Lee JA, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 1st ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

Angle CA, Brutlag AG. Phenols/Pine Oils. In: Osweiler GD, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Lee JA, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 1st ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

Cohen SL, Brutlag AG. Mothballs. In: Osweiler GD, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Lee JA, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 1st ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

Cohen SL, Brutlag AG. Tea Tree Oil. In: Osweiler GD, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Lee JA, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 1st ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

Renken, CL, Brutlag AG. Nicotine. In: Osweiler GD, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Lee JA, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 1st ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

Osweiler GD and Brutlag AG. Appendix 2, Metallic Toxicants. In: Osweiler GD, Hovda LR, Brutlag AG, Lee JA, eds. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology. 1st ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.

Brutlag AG. Chemical Toxicities. In: Ettinger SJ and Feldman EC, eds. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 7th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, 2010:565.

Brutlag AG. Topical Toxins. In: Ettinger SJ and Feldman EC, eds. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 7th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, 2010:571.