Cardiofen Toxicity in Dogs: Overview & Precautions

The toxicity of carprofen in dogs is usually caused by one of the following factors:

1. Overdose due to accidental ingestion of excessive medication.

2. Incorrect dosage administration by the owner, leading to an overdose.

3. Special reactions—pets may be unusually sensitive to the side effects of the medication, and these reactions are not dosedependent. Such reactions often lead to liver damage, but can also affect the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. These reactions may occur days to several months after taking the medication.

Symptoms of carprofen poisoning in dogs may include:

1. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, dark stools (tarlike), abdominal pain, and gastric ulcers.

2. Kidney damage can cause symptoms of acute kidney failure, such as thirst, increased urination, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, and pale gums, ears, and whites of the eyes.

3. Liver damage symptoms include jaundice, pale gums, ears, whites of the eyes, along with vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

Diagnosis of carprofen toxicity in dogs

A thorough understanding of the dog's history of carprofen use is crucial for your veterinarian to determine the cause of the illness. In addition to obtaining a complete medical history and conducting a thorough physical examination, your veterinarian may perform the following tests:

1. Complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test used to check the white and red blood cell counts in pets. Carprofen toxicity may cause a slight increase in white blood cell count. The red blood cell count may decrease due to bleeding from gastrointestinal ulcers.

2. Biochemical analysis is another blood test used primarily to measure liver enzyme levels, which will rise if the liver is damaged. This test also measures kidney function, such as creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), which will increase in acute kidney failure. Your veterinarian may repeat this test during the pet's treatment to ensure that the values are decreasing, indicating the pet is recovering from the toxicity.

3. Urine analysis is conducted to assess the kidney's ability to concentrate urine. Animals with acute kidney failure typically show dilute urine, as the kidneys cannot concentrate urine. The urine is also checked for the presence of small particles, which, if present, indicate damage to the kidneys' tubular region. Tubular damage is consistent with carprofen toxicity symptoms.

4. Urine culture and sensitivity analysis to rule out bacterial infections in the urine.

5. Abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the condition of the kidneys and liver. It may be necessary to perform a biopsy of the liver or kidneys under ultrasound guidance to determine the extent of organ damage or to confirm that carprofen is the underlying cause of the damage.

Treatment for carprofen poisoning in dogs

Admission to the hospital for intensive treatment may be necessary, which could take 2 to 5 days. Other treatments for the dog may include:

1. If the pet accidentally ingests an excessive amount of pills within four hours, vomiting will be induced, and then the undigested pills will be removed by lavage. These steps are not applicable in cases of toxicity or special reactions caused by chronic carprofen use.

2. The use of activated charcoal to prevent further absorption of carprofen. Activated charcoal cannot be used in cases of toxicity or special reactions caused by longterm carprofen use.

3. Placement of a venous catheter for intravenous fluids and other medications. Intravenous fluids (diuretics) are administered at a high rate when pets are dehydrated due to vomiting and diarrhea, which can be used to treat or prevent kidney failure.

4. Administration of antacid medications such as sucralfate (Carafate®), famotidine (Pepcid AC®), or cimetidine (Tagamet®) to prevent or treat gastric ulcers.

5. Administration of antiemetic drugs such as metoclopramide (Reglan®) or chlorpromazine.

Home care and prevention of carprofen poisoning in dogs

In case of accidental ingestion, remove any remaining pills from the pet's surroundings and take your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

If you have given your dog carprofen and notice symptoms such as vomiting, dark stools, pale gums, or decreased appetite, stop giving your dog carprofen and take your dog to a veterinarian immediately.

To prevent toxicity, never exceed the dosage prescribed by your veterinarian. You can mix the medication with food to administer to your dog, which can also help prevent gastrointestinal discomfort.

Tip: For more information on dog poisoning, you can watch 'What to Do After Dog Poisoning'.