Clinical and ultrasonographic studies for the diagnosis of ethylene glycol intoxication in dogs

Byun, Hong-sub; Kim, Myung-cheol

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 1998;38(3):629-641.

Hong-sub Byun, Myung-cheol Kim

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University

개의 Ethylene glycol 중독 진단을 위한 임상 및 초음파학적 연구

변홍섭, 김명철

충남대학교 수의과대학

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the ultrasonographic findings of ethylene glycol intoxication. Ten healthy mongrel dogs which was administered with ethylene glycol, were evaluated in terms of clinical findings, hematological findings, blood chemistry, and ultrasonographic and histopathological findings of kidney. The results obtained through these experiment could be summarized as follows : 1. Typical clinical symptoms such as vomiting, initial apprehension, depression, thirst, dehydration, tremor, anorexia, hematuria, anuria, weakness, weight loss, flaccid paralysis, tachypnea, coma, and death, were revealed after administration of ethylene glycol. 2. Special symptom of bloody diarrhea was occurred by administration of ethylene glycol. 3. After administration of ethylene glycol, PCV was decreased continuously(p<0.01), and total leukocyte count was increased gradually, revealed the highest value at day 5 and thereafter decreased. 4. Remarkable changes of ultrasonographic findings such as high echo intensity of renal parenchyma and emergence of halo in corticomedullary junction, were revealed after administration of ethylene glycol. Early(hour 8) enlargement and late(day 3) enlargement were observed in kidney(p<0.01). Especially, late enlargement was observed concurrently with the elevation of BUN and creatinine values. 5. Calcium oxalate crystals, metabolites of ethylene glycol, were observed in histopathologic findings of kidney. Also, degeneration and necrotic exfoliation of epithelial cells were recognized in addtion to swelling of renal tubules.

Key Words: dog, ethylene glycol, kidney, ultrasound