Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Antiemetic use may delay surgery in dogs and cats with blocked
By Puzio, Claire E et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2023·Department of Emergency and Critical Care, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Delay of definitive care in cats and dogs with gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction following antiemetic administration: 537 cases (2012-2020).
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 537 dogs and cats with gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction (GIFBO), which can happen when pets swallow something they shouldn't. It found that giving anti-nausea medication (antiemetics) to these pets delayed the time it took to get them the necessary surgery or endoscopy, increasing their hospital stay. While the antiemetics didn't seem to cause more complications, they did lead to longer wait times for treatment. Pet owners should be aware of this and keep an eye on their pets' symptoms if they are given antiemetics for GIFBO.
People also search for: dog vomiting foreign body · cat gastrointestinal obstruction treatment · antiemetic effects on pets · why is my dog not eating after vomiting · cat surgery for swallowed object
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether administration of antiemetic medication to dogs and cats with gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction (GIFBO) delays time to definitive care (surgery or endoscopy) and increases the risk of complications. DESIGN: Retrospective study (January 2012-July 2020). SETTING: Private referral center. ANIMALS: Five hundred and thirty-seven (440 dogs and 97 cats). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Medical records of dogs and cats with GIFBO were reviewed for antiemetic administration at the onset of clinical signs, time from onset of clinical signs to first intervention and definitive care, GIFBO-related complications, and length of hospitalization. Antiemetics were prescribed for 200 of 537 patients (158 dogs, 42 cats). Antiemetic administration was associated with an increased time between the onset of clinical signs and definitive care (3.2 days [95% confidence interval, CI, 2.8-3.5] vs. 1.6 days [95% CI, 1.4-2.0]; P < 0.001) but not with GIFBO-associated complications (P = 0.45). Antiemetic administration was associated with an increased length of hospitalization (1.6 days [95% CI, 1.4-1.7] vs. 1.1 days [95% CI, 1.1-1.2]; P < 0.001). A longer duration of clinical signs prior to intervention was associated with GIFBO-related complications (P < 0.001) regardless of antiemetic administration. CONCLUSIONS: Antiemetic administration in patients with GIFBO was associated with increased time to definitive care and length of hospitalization but not GIFBO-associated complications. Antiemetics are not inherently contraindicated in patients for whom GIFBO is a differential, but clients should be counseled to monitor for progression of clinical signs and follow-up accordingly.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37436922/