Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with severe low potassium and kidney injury from leptospirosis
By Allen, Ashley E et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2016·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Successful treatment of severe hypokalemia in a dog with acute kidney injury caused by leptospirosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old female Dachshund was brought to the vet after showing signs of excessive thirst and urination, which led to severe low potassium levels and even a heart and breathing emergency. After being resuscitated, she needed help breathing with a ventilator while her potassium levels were corrected. The vet discovered she had leptospirosis, a serious infection, which was causing her symptoms. After treatment with antibiotics and potassium supplements, she made a full recovery and was able to go home.
People also search for: dog low potassium treatment · Dachshund leptospirosis symptoms · dog breathing problems after infection
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the case management of a patient with severe hypokalemia resulting in cardiopulmonary arrest caused by infection with leptospirosis. CASE SUMMARY: A 3-year-old intact female Dachshund presented for polyuria, polydipsia, and refractory hypokalemia, which progressed to flaccid paralysis and cardiorespiratory arrest. Following successful resuscitation, the dog was apneic and managed with mechanical ventilation while volume status and electrolytes were corrected. The dog showed rapid improvement allowing for weaning from the ventilator within the first day. The dog was identified as having leptospirosis causing severe kaliuresis (fractional excretion of potassium 31%). Following discharge from hospital, the dog was managed with doxycycline, oral potassium supplementation, and spironolactone and made a full clinical recovery. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: This report identifies an unusually severe presentation of leptospirosis in a dog from a region where the disease is not considered common, which was successfully treated despite cardiopulmonary arrest on initial presentation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26636549/