Iron EDTA ingestion and toxicosis in 61 dogs: a multicenter retrospective study of Australian hospital records.

Introduction: There is limited published information on iron toxicosis in dogs, and it is unclear if dogs follow the four stages of progression as in humans. The objective of this retrospective case series was to describe the clinical course and treatment of dogs presenting after iron EDTA ingestion. Methods: Cases were retrieved through an electronic medical records search at three veterinary teaching hospitals and three private referral hospitals in Australia. Non-parametric descriptive statistics are reported. Results: 61 dogs met the inclusion criteria. The most common iron-containing product ingested was iron EDTA molluscicide (60/61), with only one dog ingesting iron EDTA plant fertilizer. Notably, 20 out of 61 dogs (32.8%) had no clinical signs before presentation. Vomiting without blood was the most common clinical sign (21), followed by lethargy (16), diarrhea without blood (15), ataxia/weakness (12), and signs consistent with abdominal pain (10). Abdominal pain was the most common physical examination finding (21), followed by dehydration (10). Forty dogs underwent some form of gastrointestinal decontamination. The median pre-chelation serum iron concentration was 61.3 μmol/L (Min-Max 9-356, Conclusion: Iron EDTA toxicosis has a good prognosis in dogs following prompt treatment, but severe organ damage, including hepatic and cardiovascular dysfunction, can occur. Additionally, desferoxamine was well tolerated when administered according to published protocols, but potentially fatal adverse effects can occur.