Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Addisonian crisis in Irish Setter after phenobarbitone treatment
By Simerdova, V et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2015·Small Animal Clinic·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Addisonian crisis in a dog treated with phenobarbitone.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female Irish Setter was brought to the vet after a week of not eating, being very tired, vomiting, and having diarrhea. The dog had been treated with phenobarbitone for suspected seizures, which may have affected her adrenal glands, leading to an Addisonian crisis (a serious condition where the body doesn't produce enough hormones). After tests confirmed the diagnosis, the vet treated her with fluids and hormone medications, and she started to feel better within three days.
People also search for: dog vomiting and diarrhea · Addison's disease in dogs · phenobarbitone side effects in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A 2-year-old intact female Irish Setter was presented with a 1-week history of anorexia, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhoea. Previous medical therapy included a 3-week treatment with phenobarbitone for suspected idiopathic epilepsy. In humans, phenobarbitone accelerates metabolism of both exogenous and endogenous steroids. CASE REPORT: Based on history, the physical examination showing abnormal mentation and laboratory abnormalities including azotaemia, hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia, Addisonian crisis was suspected. An adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test was performed and confirmed the diagnosis. Treatment with intravenous fluid therapy, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids led to a resolution of clinical signs in 3 days. CONCLUSION: To the authors' current knowledge, this is the first reported case of Addisonian crisis in a dog most probably related to phenobarbitone administration. As Addisonian crisis can be life-threatening, clinicians should be aware of this adverse effect of phenobarbitone and use it cautiously in dogs with borderline hypoadrenocorticism.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25817975/