Difference between revisions of "Ethylene Glycol Toxicity"
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
− | Ethylene Glycol is a sweet tasting fluid that is the main constituent of anti-freeze products.<ref name="multiple">'''The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult, Canine and Feline''', ''Lippencott, Williams and Wilkins''</ref>. Consequently in | + | Ethylene Glycol is a sweet tasting fluid that is the main constituent of anti-freeze products.<ref name="multiple">'''The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult, Canine and Feline''', ''Lippencott, Williams and Wilkins''</ref>. Consequently in northern hemishpere ethylene glycol toxicity is frequently encountered in practice. It has a relatively low minimum lethal dose, and its sweet, palatable taste makes it attractive to dogs, cats and other small animals. <ref name="multiple">'''The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult, Canine and Feline''' (Second Edition),''Lippencott, Williams and Wilkins </ref>, <ref>'''Feline Medicine and Therapeutics'''</ref>,<ref name="multiples">http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/210900.htm, accessed on 31.10.2010 </ref> |
Revision as of 18:58, 31 October 2010
This article is still under construction. |
Introduction
Ethylene Glycol is a sweet tasting fluid that is the main constituent of anti-freeze products.[1]. Consequently in northern hemishpere ethylene glycol toxicity is frequently encountered in practice. It has a relatively low minimum lethal dose, and its sweet, palatable taste makes it attractive to dogs, cats and other small animals. [1], [2],[3]
Signalment
- Dogs: all ages, both sexes, following intoxication lower incidence of fatalities in dogs compared to cats [1]
- Cats: all ages, both sexes
- Birds
- Other including pigs and cattle [1]
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
Severity of clinicals signs is inversely proportional to amount ingested. Time post-ingestion is also important.[3].
- Dogs: Ataxia, mild to severe increasing depression and other neurological signs, tachycardia, tachypnoea, polydypsia, polyuria, dehydration, anorexia, emesis, miosis, hypothermia
- Cats: Ataxia, pronounced depression and other neurological signs, tachycardia, tachypnoea, polyuria, dehydration, anorexia, emesis, miosis [1],
[1].
- coma and death if untreated, or if lesser amount ingested oliguric renal failure within 1 day after ingestion
- if untreated anuric renal failure
- coma and death if untreated, or if lesser amount ingested oliguric renal failure within 1 day after ingestion
Laboratory Tests
- Metabolic Acidosis, increased serum osmolality, increased anion gap, decreased plasma bicarbonate concentration, decreased PCO2, decrease blood pH
- increased urea and creatinine, hyperkalaemia,
Pathology
Treatment
Ethylene Glycol is a weak acid. Therefore in order to increase the rate of renal clearance sodium bicarbonate can be administered to dogs. Intravenous administration of sodium bicarbonate at a concentration of 1-2 mmol/kg every 3 to 6 hours achieves sufficient alkalinisation of the urine.[4]
Prognosis
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult, Canine and Feline, Lippencott, Williams and Wilkins Cite error: Invalid
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tag; name "multiple" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Feline Medicine and Therapeutics
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/210900.htm, accessed on 31.10.2010
- ↑ Canine Medicine and Therapeutics (Fourth Edition, 1998),Blackwell Science, p1049