Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog went blind from ivermectin - how lipid therapy helped
By Pollio, Danielle et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2018·BluePearl Veterinary Partners, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Electroretinographic changes after intravenous lipid emulsion therapy in a dog and a foal with ivermectin toxicosis.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A dog was brought in for sudden blindness after being exposed to ivermectin, a common parasite medication that can be toxic in high doses. The dog showed signs of dullness and had no pupillary light reflexes, but eye exams looked normal. After receiving intravenous lipid emulsion therapy, the dog's vision began to improve, and it regained normal eye responses and mental alertness. This treatment not only helped the dog recover but also showed promise in diagnosing and treating ivermectin toxicity.
People also search for: dog blindness treatment · ivermectin toxicity in dogs · intravenous lipid emulsion for dog vision recovery
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.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27440451/