Cyclonite poisoning in a dog
Berry, A.P.; Arbuckle, J.B.; Nicol, J.
Veterinary Record 113(19): 449
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 6649380 Document Number: 205403
In retrieving some plastic explosive (PE4) containing cyclonite, a police dog bit into the wrapper and swallowed some of the contents. The next morning it was unsteady on its feet, salivating profusely, and very nervous; it then had a violent epileptiform convulsion and vomited. During recovery from six hours' general anaesthesia (acepromazine and pentobarbital i/v) the convulsions returned, but were controlled with acepromazine and pentobarbital i/v, and xylazine and ketamine i/m. The following day the dog was still unsteady; it had fully recovered in five days. In a subsequent letter (Vet. Rec. 113 (20), 477) P.G. Croft points out that acepromazine can precipitate fits in dogs with primary epilepsy, and should not be used in dogs with convulsions of unknown aetiology.