Preliminary evaluation of a quantitative ethylene glycol test in dogs and cats.

Ethylene glycol (EG) toxicity is commonly encountered in dogs and cats. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the Catachem test kit (Catachem Inc., Oxford, Connecticut) could precisely and accurately detect the presence of EG added to serum and plasma from 6 dogs and 4 cats. Serum and plasma samples were spiked at various concentrations of EG (0, 20, 60, and 100 mg/dl) and analyzed using the Catachem kit. Twenty randomly selected samples were also submitted for gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of EG concentration, which was considered the gold standard. Inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) were calculated. Bland-Altman analysis was performed to compare the Catachem results to the GC-MS analyses. Analysis of serum samples showed a bias of 8.48 mg/dl (95% limits of agreement: 17.8 to -0.9 mg/dl) while spiked plasma samples had a bias of 7.32 mg/dl (18.1 to -3.5 mg/dl). Intra-assay CV was 0.7%. Interassay CV ranged from 1.2% to 2.0%. For all samples, the Catachem kit read higher than GC-MS values and slightly overestimated in vitro concentrations. The Catachem test kit is an accurate quantitative test for EG in dogs and cats that may aid in timely recognition of EG exposure. Because of the positive bias in all samples, some pets may receive treatment unnecessarily. However, animals with blood EG concentrations at or above the published lethal serum or plasma concentration will be readily identified so that treatment may be initiated.

Viscoelastic pharmacodynamics after dalteparin administration to healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects of dalteparin in dogs by means of viscoelastic coagulation monitoring with a thromboelastograph and a dynamic viscoelastic coagulometer. ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: Dalteparin (175 U/kg, SC, q 12 h) was administered for 4 days (days 1 through 4). Viscoelastic coagulation monitoring was performed hourly on the first and last days of treatment and included intermittent measurement of anti-activated coagulation factor X activity (AXA). RESULTS: Dalteparin administration resulted in progressive hypocoagulability. On both day 1 and 4, activated clotting time and clot rate for the dynamic viscoelastic coagulometer differed significantly from baseline values, whereas the platelet function parameter did not change on day 1 but did on day 4. The R (reaction time), time from reaction time until the amplitude of the thromboelastography tracing is 20 mm, α-angle, and maximum amplitude differed from baseline values on days 1 and 4, although many thromboelastographic variables were not determined. The AXA was increased from baseline values at 3 and 6 hours after administration of the dalteparin injection on days 1 and 4, and all dogs had AXA values between 0.5 and 1.0 U/mL at 2 and 4 hours after administration. The AXA correlated well with activated clotting time (r = 0.761) and with R (r = 0.810), when values were available. Thromboelastography could not be used to distinguish AXA > 0.7 U/mL. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Viscoelastic coagulation monitoring with strong coagulation activators may be used to monitor treatment with dalteparin in healthy dogs.