In medicine, we often say “the dose makes the poison.” Almost any substance can become dangerous if enough of it is consumed, even medications that are normally safe when used as directed. During Poison Prevention Week, Ruth’s story is a reminder of how quickly accidents can happen, and how important fast action can be. Ruth came to us after she ate an entire bottle of carprofen, which is a veterinary-specific medication used to treat pain and inflammation in dogs. It is generally safe and well-tolerated… when taken at the appropriate dose. Ruth's owners quickly brought her to a local ER when they realized what had happened. Although Ruth was able to vomit up about half of the pills, the veterinary team was worried that the amount of carprofen Ruth ate could cause damage to her kidneys. They referred Ruth to our Internal Medicine service at Angell in Boston for a treatment called hemoperfusion. During hemoperfusion, blood is removed from a patient, processed multiple times over a special filter to remove as much toxin as possible, and then returned back to the patient. Luckily, Ruth handled treatment extremely well! Afterward, Ruth spent a bit of time in our intensive care unit while she was closely monitored, and received all the pets and cuddles from our staff. She thanked us with tail wags and butt wiggles. Since returning home, Ruth has been doing great! Thanks to the fast action of her owner, Ruth was able to get the life-saving treatment she needed. Ruth’s story is a reminder that if you suspect your pet has ingested something they shouldn’t have, contact your vet or local emergency ASAP for advice.
