SMOKE INHALATION INJURIES IN A DOG - CASE REPORT

Abstract

Smoke inhalation injuries are relatively uncommon in veterinary pathology and the current literature on spontaneous carbon monoxide intoxication in companion animals is limited. The majority of available data are derived from isolated case reports or extrapolated from human forensic studies. Consequently, there is a need for systematic documentation and analysis of such cases to improve diagnostic accuracy and support legal investigations involving animal fatalities in fire-related incidents. In this case, five mixed-breed dogs (two males and three females), ranging in age from one to five years, were found deceased as a result of a residential structure fire. All animals were in good nutritional condition and did not have microchip identification. One dog, at the request of the public prosecutor, was submitted for necropsy to the Department of Forensic Veterinary Medicine and Legislation, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia, in order to determine the cause of death. Gross examination revealed discoloration of the coat due to soot deposition, cherry-red oral mucosa and the presence of soot particles on the oral mucosa, including the teeth and tongue, as well as in the external ear canal. No external thermal injuries, such as burns or signs of carbonization were found. Histopathological findings demonstrated pulmonary edema, soot particles in airways and generalized hyperemia. Toxicological examination of postmortem blood samples collected from the heart and major vessels demonstrated markedly elevated carboxyhemoglobin concentrations (68.67%), consistent with fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. This case emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive forensic methodology integrating anamnestic data, post-mortem macroscopic and microscopic findings, and toxicological analysis, as essential and reliable tools for investigating fire-related fatalities in companion animals.