Lyons Bridget M, Poppenga Robert H, Thawley Vincent J, Waddell Lori S
From the Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, Emergency & Critical Care Service, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (B.M.L., V.J.T., L.S.W.); and the Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California (R.H.P.).
J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2019 Sep/Oct;55(5):e55502. doi: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6921.
ABSTRACT
The use of bromethalin rodenticides has risen since 2011, and in some states, it is the most common rodenticide ingestion reported to poison control. Although intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) has been previously reported to lower serum desmethylbromethalin levels in an asymptomatic dog, and repeated mannitol has been investigated in a laboratory setting, there are no published reports of successful treatment of symptomatic bromethalin toxicosis in dogs. A 9 yr old castrated male Norwich terrier was evaluated for obtunded mentation, seizures, cranial nerve deficits, and tetraparesis secondary to bromethalin toxicosis. The patient was treated with ILE, mannitol, and ginkgo biloba and returned to normal neurological function. Bromethalin exposure was confirmed by serum desmethylbromethalin levels. Previous literature indicates that the prognosis for patients who suffer from symptomatic bromethalin toxicosis is poor to grave, and the return to normal neurological function after severe toxicosis has not been reported. ILE, mannitol, and ginkgo biloba are readily available and relatively inexpensive, and in combination may be of benefit in symptomatic bromethalin intoxication.
