Intravenous Administration of Vitamin K1 in Dogs and Cats Presented for Anticoagulant Rodenticide Poisoning: A Retrospective Study of 58 Cases.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety of IV lecithin-solubilizing agent-based vitamin K1 (VK-LSE) administration and compare the outcomes in dogs and cats with anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) poisoning that received IV VK-LSE with or without exogenous coagulation factors (CF).

DESIGN

Retrospective study (January 2010 to January 2022).

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

ANIMALS: Forty-seven dogs and 11 cats.

INTERVENTIONS: None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

Medical records from dogs and cats diagnosed with AR poisoning were reviewed. Fifty-eight patients received VK-LSE (5 mg/kg, IV). Two groups, animals that received VK-LSE without CF (VK group) and animals that received VK-LSE and CF (VK-CF group), were identified. No adverse effects were recorded after IV VK-LSE administration. Twenty-nine of 58 patients received exogenous CF. No patient received fresh frozen plasma. All patients had coagulation times within reference intervals by 24 h following admission. There was no difference in survival to discharge for dogs (96% VK vs. 85% VK-CF, p = 0.22) or for cats (100%, both groups) between groups.

CONCLUSION

IV administration of VK-LSE appears to be safe, with no reported adverse effects. In AR-poisoned dogs and cats, IV VK-LSE administration without exogenous CF appears to rapidly normalize coagulation times, with high survival rates and short hospitalization lengths.