Haematology and serum biochemistry in the racing greyhound following intraperitoneal povidone-iodine.

Povidone-iodine caused peritonitis with neutrophilic leukocytosis and a minimal left shift at the dosage rate of 3.5 ml/kg body weight. A dosage rate of 2 ml/kg only caused slight neutrophilic leukocytosis. There was a significant increase in the levels of creatinine (p = 0.049) and BUN (p = 0.020) in dogs that received the higher dose rate. Two dogs died from povidone-iodine toxicity with a marked increase in ALT, AP, SDH and conjugated bilirubin. It is concluded that povidone-iodine is unsafe for use in the peritoneal cavity of dogs.