Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog died after levamisole and ivermectin found in organs
By Meiser, H et al.·Published in Berliner und Munchener tierarztliche Wochenschrift·2001·Institut fü·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: [Detection of levamisole and ivermectin in organ samples from a dead collie].
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A collie was given a preventive treatment of levamisole, but shortly after, the dog experienced convulsions, vomiting, and breathing problems, ultimately passing away just over two hours later. The cause of death was unclear, but tests revealed the presence of both levamisole and ivermectin in the dog's organs. This case highlights that using levamisole alongside ivermectin can be dangerous for collies and potentially other dog breeds, as the combination may lead to severe adverse reactions.
People also search for: collie ivermectin reaction · dog convulsions after medication · levamisole side effects in dogs
Abstract
A collie, known for its breed-dependent adverse reaction to ivermectin, was without any clinical signs. The dog was prophylactically treated with 3 mg/kg KG (s.c.) of levamisole. Within 15 minutes, the dog showed convulsions, vomitus, and dyspnea, and perished 2.5 hours after injection of the drugs. The pathological findings were not informative as to the cause of death, and with regard to the adverse reactions, additional application of ivermectin was not excluded. Therefore, organ samples were submitted for toxicological analysis of both levamisole and ivermectin. For detection of levamisole and ivermectin, modified GC/MS and HPLC procedures were developed. Concentrations up to 535 micrograms levamisole and up to 26 ng ivermectin were found per g tissue. Both analytical methods are sensitive enough to detect these drugs after application of low doses. This study elucidates that combination of low-dosed ivermectin and levamisole is no recommendable means against adverse effects of ivermectin, with respect to collies. Moreover, the synergistic effects of ivermectin and levamisole suggests the same drug incompatibility in other dog breeds and animal species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11413716/