Serum bromide concentrations following loading dose in epileptic dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To determine serum bromide concentrations following an oral loading dose in dogs.

METHODS

Retrospective review of clinical records of dogs suffering from seizures that were treated with bromide. A loading dose of 600 mg/kg potassium bromide was administered orally in 17 to 48 hours together with a maintenance dose of 30 mg/kg/day. Blood samples were collected within 24 hours after completing the protocol and serum bromide concentrations were determined by ultra-violet gold chloride colorimetric assay.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight dogs were included in the study. The median age was 3 (range, 0 · 2 to 10) years and bodyweight 21 · 8 (3 · 45 to 46 · 2) kg. The median serum bromide concentration was 1 · 26 (0 · 74 to 3 · 6) mg/mL. Thirty-two dogs (84 · 2%) had serum bromide concentrations within the therapeutic interval (1 to 3 mg/mL). The serum concentration in five dogs (13 · 2%) was just under the minimal therapeutic value and in one dog (2 · 6%) it exceeded the maximal therapeutic value (3 · 6 mg/mL).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Following this oral loading dose protocol, serum bromide concentrations reach the therapeutic range in the majority of dogs. This indicates that the suggested protocol is effective in achieving therapeutic concentrations rapidly in epileptic dogs.