Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Oral sodium benzoate and phenylbutyrate for dogs with liver shunts
By van Straten, Giora et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2019·Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Efficacy of orally administered sodium benzoate and sodium phenylbutyrate in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog with congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) was treated for high ammonia levels in the blood, which can lead to serious health issues. The dog received two different medications, sodium benzoate and sodium phenylbutyrate, to see if they would help lower ammonia levels and improve symptoms. Unfortunately, neither medication worked, and the dog's ammonia levels remained the same as when given a placebo. The dog also experienced side effects like vomiting and lethargy during treatment, leading to the conclusion that these medications are not effective for this condition.
People also search for: dog high ammonia levels treatment · congenital portosystemic shunt symptoms · sodium benzoate for dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hyperammonemia can result in hepatic encephalopathy, which in severe cases eventually can lead to coma and death. In dogs, congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) are the most common cause for hyperammonemia. Conservative treatment consists of a protein modified diet, nonabsorbable disaccharides, antibiotics, or some combinations of these. Sodium benzoate (SB) and sodium phenylbutyrate (SPB) both are used in the acute and long-term treatment of humans with hyperammonemia caused by urea cycle enzyme deficiencies. Both treatments are believed to lower blood ammonia concentrations by promoting excretion of excess nitrogen via alternative pathways. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PO treatment with SB and SPB on hyperammonemia and clinical signs in CPSS dogs. METHODS: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Concentrations of blood ammonia and bile acids were measured in CPSS dogs before and after a 5-day treatment with SB, SPB, and placebo. A wash-out period of 3 days was used between treatments. A standard questionnaire was developed and distributed to owners to evaluate clinical signs before and after each treatment. RESULTS: Blood ammonia concentrations were not influenced by any of the treatments and were comparable to those observed during placebo treatment. In addition, SB and SPB treatment did not result in improvement of clinical signs. Adverse effects during treatment included anorexia, vomiting, and lethargy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Based on our results, we conclude that SB or SPB are not useful in the conservative treatment of hyperammonemia in dogs with CPSS.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30916412/