Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with anemia and kidney issues after eating henna dye
By Jardes, Daniel J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2013·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hemolytic anemia after ingestion of the natural hair dye Lawsonia inermis (henna) in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old female spayed Border Collie became very weak and lethargic after eating a box of natural hair dye containing henna. She showed symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea five days later. Tests revealed she had hemolytic anemia (a condition where red blood cells are destroyed) and signs of kidney problems. The vet treated her with a blood transfusion and IV fluids, which helped her recover well. Follow-up tests showed her anemia had resolved and her kidneys were functioning normally again.
People also search for: dog vomiting after eating hair dye · Border Collie lethargy treatment · hemolytic anemia in dogs · henna toxicity in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical presentation and case management of a dog that developed hemolytic anemia and evidence of renal tubular dysfunction after ingestion of a natural hair dye containing Lawsonia inermis (henna). To review cases of henna toxicity reported in the human literature. CASE SUMMARY: An 8-year-old female spayed Border Collie was presented 5 days after ingestion of a box of natural hair dye. The dog was showing signs of lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. A serum biochemistry profile, complete blood count, and urinalysis demonstrated evidence of renal tubular dysfunction and a regenerative anemia without spherocytosis. The dog was treated with a transfusion of packed RBCs and IV fluids, resulting in significant clinical improvement. Repeat diagnostics showed resolution of the anemia and no lasting evidence of tubular dysfunction. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case in the veterinary literature of toxicity following ingestion of Lawsonia inermis (henna). Henna ingestion was associated with the development of hemolytic anemia and acute kidney injury.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24180624/