Suspected relay pentobarbital intoxication of a dog after ingestion of contaminated tissue.

Our objective was to describe a case of suspected relay barbiturate intoxication of a dog after ingestion of a rat that had been euthanized and frozen and then later burned in an attempted cremation. This case will be compared to previous reports of relay toxicosis. This report describes a dog that was presented to an emergency and critical care hospital because of lethargy and vomiting after ingesting remains of a rat that had been euthanized 2 wk earlier. The primary-care veterinarian had used a pentobarbital solution for euthanasia. The rat's remains had been frozen until the owner attempted cremation at home. The attempted cremation and known ingestion of the carcass had occurred earlier in the day, before the dog became symptomatic. The degree of cremation was unknown. Upon presentation to the hospital, the dog was dull and ataxic and had an absent menace response. Supportive therapies and intravenous lipid emulsion (IVLE) therapy were administered. Despite initial treatments, the dog's neurologic condition continued to worsen. A 2nd dose of IVLE was subsequently administered. The described symptoms improved 2 h after the 2nd dose of IVLE. The dog was discharged 40 h after arrival to the hospital. Key clinical message: The purpose of this report was to describe a unique case of suspected relay barbiturate intoxication of a dog following ingestion of remains from a previously euthanized companion animal that had been exposed to temperature extremes.