Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Brodifacoum toxicosis in two horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1997
- Authors:
- McConnico, R S et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Medicine and Surgery · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Brodifacoum is a type of rat poison that has become more popular in recent years, leading to more cases of accidental poisoning in animals like horses. This study describes two horses that accidentally ingested a dangerous amount of this poison. The key to their recovery was quickly recognizing the poisoning and treating them with vitamin K1, which helps the blood to clot. The horses were closely monitored to check their blood clotting times and the levels of brodifacoum in their systems. Thanks to prompt treatment and careful observation, both horses were successfully treated and recovered.
Abstract
Increased popularity during the past decade of brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide, has led to an increase in cases of accidental poisoning in nontarget species, including pets and farm animals. Pharmacokinetics of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides such as brodifacoum are substantially different from those of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides such as warfarin. This difference dramatically influences management of exposure in terms of duration and cost of treatment and may affect outcome. The National Poison Control Center reports that approximately 50 cases of brodifacoum exposure have occurred in horses between 1993 and 1997. To our knowledge, this report is the first complete clinical description of accidental ingestion of a potentially lethal dose of brodifacoum in horses. Early recognition of exposure to brodifacoum, subsequent treatment with adequate doses of vitamin K1, and sequential monitoring of clotting times and serum brodifacoum concentration permitted poisoning in these horses to be managed successfully.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9333092/