Suspected herbicide toxicosis in a dog.

An 8-year-old 38-kg spayed female Golden Retriever was admitted for vomiting, signs of abdominal pain on palpation, ataxia, anorexia, and generalized weakness of 2 days' duration. Ten hours prior to onset of clinical signs, the dog was found standing in and drinking from large pools of an accidentally spilled herbicide that contained an octanoic acid ester of bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile) and an isooctyl ester of (2-methyl-4-chloro) phenoxyacetic acid (MCPA). Appendicular muscles were firm on palpation and persistent muscle contraction (myotonia > 1 minute duration) was found on muscle percussion, using a reflex hammer. Electrical activity indicative of myotonia was identified on electromyographic evaluation. With supportive treatment, the dog eventually recovered from suspected MCPA toxicosis. Although rare, MCPA toxicosis should be considered as a cause of acquired myotonia in dogs.