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Ethanol toxicity in a dog due to gin‐soaked sloe berry ( Prunus spinosa ) ingestion
Author(s) -
West Natalie,
Rusbridge Clare
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
veterinary record case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.165
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2052-6121
DOI - 10.1002/vrc2.12
Subject(s) - medicine , ingestion , morning , toxicity , urine , anesthesia , glasgow coma scale , hypothermia , veterinary medicine
A 10‐month‐old male Labrador retriever was presented for acute onset altered mentation and inability to walk. The dog was presented with a modified glasgow coma scale (MGCS) of 12 with tachycardia (148 bpm) and hypothermia (37 ° C). The dog had been normal the previous night then found semi‐comatose at the following morning. Investigations included haematology, biochemistry, C‐reactive protein, magnetic resonance imaging, urine toxicology and c erebrospinal fluid analysis. Ten hours after being found the dog passed faeces containing a significant volume of berries. The owner later determined that 750 g of sloe berries soaked in gin were missing from the garden compost heap. Serum ethanol concentrations measured approximately 20 hours after the suspected consumption were 310 mgD/L. The dog was treated with intralipid, intravenous fluid therapy and paracetamol. He was neurologically normal (MGCS = 0) 24 hours later, following diagnosis and treatment. Differential diagnosis and management of the comatose dog and management of ethanol toxicity are discussed.