Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Treating severe baclofen poisoning in dogs with extracorporeal
By Chalifoux, Nolan Vincent et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2026·Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Extracorporeal Therapies Versus Medical Therapy for the Treatment of Severe Baclofen Intoxication in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Eighty dogs were treated for baclofen poisoning, a serious condition that can cause severe symptoms like difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness. Some dogs received extracorporeal therapy (ECT), while others were treated with standard medical therapy. The dogs treated with ECT had a slightly shorter time on mechanical ventilation and a high survival rate of 95%, compared to 92% for those on medical therapy. However, dogs receiving ECT had longer hospital stays. Overall, both treatments were effective, but ECT showed some advantages in recovery time.
People also search for: dog baclofen poisoning treatment · dog breathing problems after baclofen · baclofen overdose in dogs · extracorporeal therapy for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of treatment with extracorporeal therapy (ECT) and medical therapy (MED) in dogs with baclofen intoxication. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective study between June 1, 2013, and October 31, 2023. SETTING: Six university teaching hospitals and three private specialty hospitals. ANIMALS: Eighty dogs treated for baclofen intoxication. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-nine of 80 (36%) dogs required endotracheal intubation, and 18 (23%) required mechanical ventilation (MV). Twenty-one (26%) dogs were treated with ECT, and 59 (74%) dogs received MED. The median estimated maximal exposure dose was 8.3 mg/kg (range: 3.6-48 mg/kg) in the ECT group and 5.7 mg/kg (range: 0.46-132 mg/kg) in the MED group (p = 0.044). Nine of 21 (43%) dogs treated with ECT had an improvement in their level of consciousness. The mean duration of MV was 20 ± 11 h in dogs treated with ECT and 23 ± 23 h in dogs treated with MED. The median hospitalization time was 58 h (range: 17-124 h) in the ECT group and 24 h (range: 0.5-188 h) in the MED group. Survival was 95% for dogs treated with ECT and 92% for dogs treated with MED. Multivariable Poisson regression modeling was performed, controlling for estimated maximal exposure dose (mg/kg). ECT was associated with a shorter duration of MV (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.76 [95% CI: 0.58-0.99]; p = 0.038). However, ECT was associated with longer hospitalization times (IRR: 1.57 [95% CI: 1.45-1.71]; p < 0.001). No association was found between the use of ECT and survival (odds ratio: 1.61 [95% CI: 0.16-16.13]; p = 0.684). CONCLUSIONS: ECT is associated with high survival despite large estimated exposure doses. Although ECT was associated with a shorter duration of MV, no difference was found in survival or hospitalization time.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41665053/