Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Suspected carprofen toxicosis caused by coprophagia in a dog.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Hutchins, Rae G et al.
- Affiliation:
- College of Veterinary Medicine · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 1-year-old spayed female mixed-breed dog was brought in because she was having trouble controlling her urine, drinking and peeing a lot, and her urine was very diluted. Tests showed that she had high levels of certain liver enzymes, but an ultrasound and liver sample tests didn’t show any obvious problems. It turned out that she had ingested feces from another dog in the household that was taking carprofen, a medication. After stopping her access to the other dog's feces, her symptoms improved within a week, and follow-up tests showed her liver enzyme levels returned to normal five weeks later. Overall, the treatment was successful, and her health improved significantly.
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 1-year-old spayed female mixed-breed dog was evaluated because of urinary incontinence, polyuria, polydipsia, and minimally concentrated urine. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Markedly high circulating alanine transaminase activity, mildly high circulating alkaline phosphatase activity, and low urine specific gravity were detected for the dog. Results of ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen and cytologic examination of liver samples were unremarkable. Carprofen was detected in serum and plasma samples obtained from the dog. Exposure to carprofen was attributed to ingestion of feces of another dog in the household that was receiving the drug daily. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Access to feces of other dogs in the household was prevented; no other treatment was initiated. Urinary incontinence, polyuria, and polydipsia resolved, and urine specific gravity increased within 7 days following discontinuation of consumption of feces. Alanine transaminase activity was substantially lower than the value determined during the initial examination, and alkaline phosphatase activity was within the reference range 5 weeks after discontinuation of consumption of feces by the dog. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings for the dog of this report suggested that carprofen toxicosis can be caused by consumption of feces of another dog receiving the drug. This cause of adverse effects should be a differential diagnosis for dogs with clinical signs and clinicopathologic abnormalities consistent with carprofen toxicosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23971852/