Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pulsus alternans heart rhythm in a dog with xylitol poisoning
By Chalifoux, Nolan V & Carr, Anthony P·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2020·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pulsus alternans in a critically ill dog hospitalized for xylitol toxicity.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old spayed female Great Pyrenees mix was brought to the vet after eating xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs. Blood tests showed serious liver issues and other complications, and by the second day, the dog had developed signs of bleeding in the lungs. Unfortunately, the dog's condition worsened, leading to heart problems indicated by a specific pattern in her pulse before she passed away. This case highlights the severe effects of xylitol toxicity and the importance of recognizing heart issues in critically ill dogs.
People also search for: xylitol poisoning in dogs · Great Pyrenees xylitol toxicity symptoms · dog heart problems after xylitol
Abstract
A 2-year-old spayed female Great Pyrenees cross dog was presented following the consumption of pure xylitol sweetener. Blood tests revealed hepatocellular leakage and cholestasis, hyperlactatemia, thrombocytopenia, and prolonged prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times. Thoracic radiographs on day 2 of hospitalization were consistent with pulmonary hemorrhage. Prior to death, the dog developed pulsus alternans suggestive of myocardial dysfunction secondary to severe systemic inflammation. This is the first report of pulsus alternans in a critically ill dog prior to clinical deterioration and death. This is also the first documentation of pulsus alternans with a high-definition oscillometric device. Key clinical message: Increased recognition of pulsus alternans and its potential implications in veterinary medicine may contribute to the identification of cardiovascular complications associated with systemic disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32741993/