Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Electroretinographic changes after intravenous lipid emulsion therapy in a dog and a foal with ivermectin toxicosis.
- Journal:
- Veterinary ophthalmology
- Year:
- 2018
- Authors:
- Pollio, Danielle et al.
- Affiliation:
- BluePearl Veterinary Partners · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This case report discusses a dog and a foal that both experienced blindness due to ivermectin poisoning. When they were examined, they showed signs of being dull and unresponsive, with no reaction to light in their eyes and no ability to respond to visual threats. Although their eye exams looked normal, tests showed problems with their retinas. After receiving intravenous lipid emulsion therapy, which is a treatment for this type of poisoning, both animals showed improvement in their eye responses and overall alertness. This suggests that the treatment was effective in helping them recover from the blindness caused by ivermectin.
Abstract
This case report describes ivermectin-induced blindness in a dog and a foal with normal ophthalmic fundic examinations and attenuated electroretinography (ERG). Subsequent recovery in ERG was noted following intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) therapy. A dog and a foal were evaluated for ivermectin-induced blindness. Clinical signs included dull mentation, absent pupillary light reflexes (PLRs), and absent menace on presentation. The animals had normal fundoscopic examinations; however, in both cases ERG was consistent with neurosensory retinal dysfunction. Following ILE therapy for ivermectin toxicosis, return of menace, PLRs, and normal mentation were noted, as was improvement in ERG and serum ivermectin levels. These are the first documented cases of ivermectin-induced blindness in a dog and a foal with normal fundic examinations and attenuated ERG. ERG improved in both animals after ILE therapy. ERG may assist in the diagnosis of ivermectin toxicosis in dogs and horses. ILE therapy may hasten recovery in treatment of ivermectin-induced blindness.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27440451/