Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with methemoglobinemia after swallowing zinc object
By Tasker, Kate et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2026·Department of Emergency and Critical Care, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Methemoglobinemia Secondary to Zinc Foreign Body Ingestion in a Dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought to the emergency room after ingesting a zinc-containing object, leading to serious health issues. The dog showed signs of gastrointestinal problems and developed multi-organ dysfunction, which ultimately resulted in cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, despite treatment efforts, the dog did not survive. This case highlights the dangers of zinc ingestion in dogs and the potential for serious complications like methemoglobinemia, which can affect oxygen delivery in the body.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of methemoglobinemia in a dog after exposure to a zinc-containing foreign body. CASE SUMMARY: Zinc toxicosis in dogs is clinically associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction, pancreatitis, hemolytic anemia, and acute kidney failure. The current case report describes a dog presenting to the emergency room with zinc toxicosis and concurrent mild methemoglobinemia. The dog developed multi-organ dysfunction, ultimately resulting in cardiopulmonary arrest. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of methemoglobinemia in a dog presenting with zinc toxicosis. Our observations suggest that evaluation for methemoglobinemia in dogs with zinc intoxication may be prudent, especially because this derangement may contribute to tissue hypoxia in dogs. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the clinical relevance of methemoglobinemia and whether it affects the outcome in patients with zinc toxicosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41935958/