Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Copper deficiency from long-term treatment in a Bedlington Terrier
By Seguin, M A & Bunch, S E·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2001·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Iatrogenic copper deficiency associated with long-term copper chelation for treatment of copper storage disease in a Bedlington Terrier.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old Bedlington Terrier was brought to the vet because it was losing weight, not eating, and vomiting blood. The dog had previously been diagnosed with copper storage disease and was being treated with a special diet and a medication called trientine to remove excess copper. After some tests, the vet found that the dog's liver had very low copper levels, which was causing ongoing health issues. The treatment was adjusted, and over the next few months, the dog's symptoms improved significantly, and its health returned to normal.
People also search for: Bedlington Terrier vomiting blood · copper storage disease treatment · dog weight loss and inappetence
Abstract
A 9-year-old Bedlington Terrier was evaluated because of weight loss, inappetence, and hematemesis. Copper storage disease had been diagnosed previously on the basis of high hepatic copper concentration. Treatment had included dietary copper restriction and administration of trientine for chelation of copper. A CBC revealed microcytic hypochromic anemia. High serum activities of liver enzymes, high bile acid concentrations, and low BUN and albumin concentrations were detected. Vomiting resolved temporarily with treatment, but the clinicopathologic abnormalities persisted. Results of transcolonic portal scintigraphy suggested an abnormal shunt fraction. Results of liver biopsy and copper quantification revealed glycogen accumulation and extremely low hepatic copper concentration. Serum and hair copper concentrations were also low. Chelation and dietary copper restriction were tapered and discontinued. Clinical signs and all clinicopathologic abnormalities improved during a period of several months.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11393371/