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Successful treatment of severe hypokalemia in a dog with acute kidney injury caused by leptospirosis
Author(s) -
Allen Ashley E.,
Buckley Gareth J.,
Schaer Michael
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of veterinary emergency and critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.886
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1476-4431
pISSN - 1479-3261
DOI - 10.1111/vec.12416
Subject(s) - medicine , hypokalemia , leptospirosis , polyuria , anesthesia , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , resuscitation , pathology , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology
Objective To report the case management of a patient with severe hypokalemia resulting in cardiopulmonary arrest caused by infection with leptospirosis. Case Summary A 3‐year‐old intact female Dachshund presented for polyuria, polydipsia, and refractory hypokalemia, which progressed to flaccid paralysis and cardiorespiratory arrest. Following successful resuscitation, the dog was apneic and managed with mechanical ventilation while volume status and electrolytes were corrected. The dog showed rapid improvement allowing for weaning from the ventilator within the first day. The dog was identified as having leptospirosis causing severe kaliuresis (fractional excretion of potassium 31%). Following discharge from hospital, the dog was managed with doxycycline, oral potassium supplementation, and spironolactone and made a full clinical recovery. New or Unique Information Provided This report identifies an unusually severe presentation of leptospirosis in a dog from a region where the disease is not considered common, which was successfully treated despite cardiopulmonary arrest on initial presentation.