Postmortem diagnosis of accidental cocaine intoxication in a dog

Vet Hum Toxicol. 1998 Jun;40(3):154-5.

Abstract

Despite an abundance of data on the experimental effects of cocaine in dogs, no detailed reports documenting accidental cocaine exposure in domestic pets have been reported in the veterinary literature. A case of cocaine intoxication is described in a 19-mo-old male catahoula hound in which the diagnosis was confirmed using histopathology, thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry. The case was presented as a possible intoxication of unknown etiology. Routine toxicologic screens and characteristic histologic lesions provided evidence for the diagnosis without prior suspicion of cocaine involvement.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents
  • Animals
  • Cocaine / poisoning*
  • Dog Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Dogs
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Heart / drug effects
  • Male
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Pulmonary Edema / pathology
  • Pulmonary Edema / veterinary*
  • Seizures / pathology
  • Seizures / veterinary*
  • Stomach / drug effects
  • Stomach / pathology
  • Vasoconstriction / drug effects
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / poisoning*

Substances

  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Cocaine