Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Liver failure in dogs after eating camel meat with indospicine toxin
By FitzGerald, L M et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2011·School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hepatotoxicosis in dogs consuming a diet of camel meat contaminated with indospicine.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Four dogs became seriously ill after eating a commercial diet made from camel meat that was contaminated with a toxic substance called indospicine. They showed signs of severe liver disease, including high liver enzyme levels and prolonged clotting times. Unfortunately, two of the dogs worsened despite treatment and had to be euthanized. Tests confirmed the presence of indospicine in their blood and the camel meat they consumed. This case highlights the dangers of feeding dogs contaminated meat, which can lead to severe liver problems and even death.
People also search for: dog liver disease symptoms · camel meat dog food · indospicine poisoning in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Four dogs presented with clinical signs of severe hepatic disease after consuming a commercial camel meat diet. METHODS: Laboratory investigation revealed evidence of severe liver disease, including markedly increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and total bilirubin concentration, and prolonged clotting times. RESULTS: Two dogs deteriorated despite supportive therapy and were euthanased. Histologically, both livers appeared similar, with the main lesion being extensive periacinar necrosis and haemorrhage. Indospicine, a toxic amino acid of plant origin, was detected in the serum and/or plasma from all four dogs, as well as in tissues of a dog that was necropsied and in a sample of the camel meat fed to this animal. Serum biochemistry tests using blood samples collected from 15 additional dogs identified as having eaten the diet detected indospicine was in the serum of 14 and 3 had increased ALT activity. One of the latter dogs subsequently developed clinical signs of severe liver disease and was euthanased. CONCLUSION: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first published report of the detection of indospicine residues in camel meat and the occurrence of severe, sometimes fatal, liver disease in dogs that consumed this contaminated meat.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21323657/