Acute respiratory distress in five dogs due to paraquat poisoning
1990
Koutinas, A. | Rallis, T. | Roumpies, N. | Papasteriadis, A. | Raptopoulos, D. (Aristotelion, Univ., Thessaloniki (Greece). Dept. of Veterinary Service) | Lekkas, S. (Aristotelion Univ., Thessaloniki (Greece). Lab. of Veterinary Service)
The weed killer paraquat, a derivative of pyridylium is toxic to plants and animals. The five dogs reported in this paper and presumably poisoned by accident were presented because of anorexia, depression, vomiting and most importantly respiratory distress. The severe and progressively worsening respiratory distress was not compatible with either the radiographic changes or the clinical findings. In three dogs arterial blood gas determinations revealed hypoxemia and hypercapnia. In two of the dogs, died from cyanotic respiratory failure, necropsies revealed pulmonary oedema, haemorrhage and collapse with loss of the bronchiolar epithelial cells. Alveolar fibrosis was also found. The lesions found in the kidneys and liver were not associated with concomitant clinical or biochemical abnormalities. The other three dogs recovered completely in a relatively short time after being treated with dexamethasone, furosemide and aminophylline. Although the diagnosis was not confirmed by toxicological analysis there is strong evidence, based on the history, the clinical picture and the pathologic findings that it was paraquat poisoning.
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