Pharmaceutical exposure and toxicosis in dogs: A retrospective study of 223 cases from a Canadian veterinary teaching hospital (2018 to 2023).

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ingestion of pharmaceuticals is a common cause of poisoning and hospitalization in companion animals. Pets may be exposed through accidental over-administration of a prescribed veterinary drug, intentional administration of a human drug that owners do not realize is unsuitable for animals, or access to unattended medications. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to document cases of exposure and toxicosis due to suspected and confirmed pharmaceutical ingestion in dogs admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital over a 6-year period (2018 to 2023). ANIMALS AND PROCEDURE: Medical records were retrieved from the veterinary hospital database using keywords related to general poisoning. Results were then filtered using keywords related specifically to pharmaceutical ingestion while excluding non-pharmaceutical poisoning cases. Information pertaining to hospitalization, patient signalment, treatment, and case progression was collected and analyzed to characterize common factors in canine pharmaceutical poisoning cases. RESULTS: Pharmaceutical ingestion was reported in 223 canine poisoning cases (confirmed in 102 cases) over 6 y. There were 32 categories of pharmaceutical ingested over the study period. The most common were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (= 86) and acetaminophen (= 29). The most common patient signalment was spayed female, young (≤4 y), and large breed (particularly, Labrador retrievers). Normal clinical examinations on presentation were noted in 164 cases. Accidental drug exposures were more common than intentional pharmaceutical administrations (= 211 and= 12, respectively). The occurrence of cases related to exposure to human pharmaceuticals was 5× that of cases related to veterinary pharmaceuticals. Only 1 dog of 223 was euthanized, for a survival-to-discharge rate of 99.6%. The most common therapies administered were emesis induction, activated charcoal, fluid support, and gastroprotectant. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pharmaceutical exposure, especially from over-the-counter human medications, was a common reason for hospital admission among the dogs described in this study. Improved client education is needed to avoid preventable pharmaceutical exposures.