Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog suspected of cyanide poisoning after nitroprusside for high blood
By Suciu, Alexandra & Hall, Georgina·Published in Veterinary Record Case Reports·2025·Emergency and Critical Care Dick White Referrals Six Mile Bottom UK, United Kingdom·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Suspected cyanide intoxication after nitroprusside continuous rate infusion in a canine hypertensive emergency
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old male Shih Tzu was brought in for dangerously high blood pressure that wasn't improving with standard medications. The vet tried increasing doses of amlodipine and added another medication, but the dog still needed more help. They started an intravenous treatment with nitroprusside, which is used for severe hypertension. However, after stopping the nitroprusside, the dog's blood tests suggested possible cyanide poisoning from the medication. The situation was serious, and the vet had to closely monitor the dog for any further complications.
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Abstract
AbstractThis case report describes the clinical investigations and associated abnormalities of an 11‐year‐old, male, entire, Shih Tzu that presented for management of hypertensive emergency suspected to be due to a phaeochromocytoma affecting the right adrenal gland. The patient did not respond to incremental doses of amlodipine or the addition of phenoxybenzamine. Anti‐hypertensive management was escalated with an intravenous continuous rate infusion of nitroprusside for 29 hours. Several hours after the discontinuation of nitroprusside, marked changes in the patient's venous blood gas analyses raised the suspicion of cyanide toxicity secondary to the nitroprusside infusion.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1002/vrc2.70099