Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Suspected chlorfenapyr poisoning in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of equine veterinary science
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Simões, B P et al.
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Clinic Department · Brazil
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old Quarter Horse mare was taken to the veterinary hospital after showing signs of suspected poisoning from a pesticide called chlorfenapyr, which can harm cells and is usually a concern for humans and dogs. The horse had excessive sweating, a high body temperature, trouble breathing, muscle twitching, and appeared very scared. These symptoms started a day after the area where she grazed was treated with the pesticide for caterpillar control. Although her blood tests showed some issues with her kidneys and liver, she improved with supportive care, including fluids, a pain reliever, and cold-water showers, and was sent home without any further problems.
Abstract
Chlorfenapyr is a pesticide that interferes with mitochondrial function, leading to cell death and mortality. Although poisoning is primarily documented in humans and dogs, it can result in severe clinical signs, including sweating, respiratory distress, and neurological dysfunction. This report describes the clinical and laboratory findings of a horse with suspected accidental intoxication with chlorfenapyr. A 4-year-old Quarter Horse mare was referred to the veterinary hospital with signs of excessive sweating, hyperthermia, tachypnea, muscle fasciculation, and fearful facial expression. The clinical signs appeared a day after the paddock where the horse grazed was sprayed with chlorfenapyr for caterpillar control. Despite initial abnormalities in renal and liver profiles in the serum biochemistry analysis, the horse responded positively to supportive treatment with intravenous fluid therapy, sodium dipyrone (25mg/kg QID), and cold-water showers, showing improvement in clinical parameters, and was discharged without further complications.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39924083/