Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and outcomes of bromide poisoning in epileptic dogs
By Rossmeisl, John H & Inzana, Karen D·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2009·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical signs, risk factors, and outcomes associated with bromide toxicosis (bromism) in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 83 dogs with epilepsy was studied to understand bromide toxicosis, a condition caused by too much bromide in their system. Symptoms included confusion, difficulty walking, and weakness in their limbs. The main risk factor was found to be the amount of bromide they were given. Dogs diagnosed with bromism improved quickly when their bromide dose was reduced or when treatments helped flush the bromide out of their system, although some experienced seizures during recovery. Regular monitoring of bromide levels is important for managing dogs with epilepsy.
People also search for: dog epilepsy treatment · bromide toxicosis in dogs · dog seizures after bromide treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical signs, risk factors, and outcomes associated with bromide toxicosis (bromism) in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy treated with potassium or sodium bromide. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. ANIMALS: 83 clinically ill epileptic dogs with (cases; n = 31) and without (controls; 52) bromism. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed for information regarding signalment, epilepsy history, treatment, diet, clinicopathologic test results, concurrent diseases, clinical signs, and outcome. Case and control dogs were matched by the veterinary hospitals from which they were referred and by month of admission. A presumptive diagnosis of bromism was made in case dogs when treatment for primary clinical signs was limited to induction of diuresis or reduction in the dose of bromide administered, and this diagnosis was supported by serum bromide concentrations. Potential risk factors for bromism were identified via univariate and subsequent multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Common clinical signs of bromism included alterations in consciousness, ataxia, and upper and lower motor neuron tetraparesis and paraparesis. The multivariate analysis identified bromide dose at admission to the hospital as the only factor significantly associated with bromism. In all dogs with bromism, treatment via dose reduction or facilitated renal excretion of bromide resulted in rapid clinical improvement, although breakthrough seizures happened during treatment in 8 of 31 (26%) dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bromism is a clinically heterogeneous, dose-dependent neurotoxicosis that is largely reversible with treatment. Regular serial monitoring of serum bromide concentrations is recommended to optimize anticonvulsant treatment in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19480623/