PSA: Albuterol Toxicity in Dogs

[ianoconnor]

I thought I'd share my experiences from last night as a warning to people with dogs & other animals.


We were sitting on the couch reading last night when we heard a loud noise. Turns out my dog had gotten into my fiance's purse and punctured her asthma inhaler. At the time I didn't really think anything of it. About an hour later, I was heading to bed and Nati (my pup) was acting strange. Usually she sleeps in my bed, but for some reason she laid down on the landing of the stairs. I could tell she was uneasy and when I felt her heart beat it was going CRAZY. I did a quick google search on the subject (will post some links below) and found out an overdose can be lethal in pets.

Googled 24-hour vet clinic in Des Moines (this place came up first: IVRC - Iowa Veterinary Referral Center - Veterinary Emergency, Surgery & Internal Medicine). They initially directed me to ASPCA, to get a better idea of how to treat. ASPCA gives you a case # and a direct callback # to then give to the vet. They then walk the vet through how to treat, if the vet is unaware of that specific situation.

Soooo, rushed her to the vet. When she was first checked out, her heart rate was 220 bpm, w/ a few spikes to 240. Really scary. The vet prescribed giving her an IV w/ drugs to slow down the heart rate and also provide her with other fluids, etc.

As of this morning, she is improving and her heart rate is down to around 140. Hopefully she can come home this evening once it improves a bit more.

Sorry for rambling. I know a lot of people on here have pets that they really love, so I just wanted to share this in case something similar happens with you. If I hadn't of taken her in, she very well could have died.


Here are a few articles on the subject:
Toxicity Case Report: Albuterol Inhaler Poisoning in Dogs
Asthma Puffers Can Be Deadly for Dogs | Dogster
Canine Albuterol Toxicity | eHow.com



While we're on the subject, anyone else have any crazy pet stories like this?

 

[Cycl1]

eeeck... hope she pulls through.

 

[CLONECONES]

glad to hear they could get it under control

 

[bos]

Yes, that stuff is crazy. My son uses it from time to time to combat allergy related asthma. I made the mistake of trying it once when I had gunked up lungs, and while it worked, my heart be out of my chest like mad. It effects everyone differently and I cant imagine what it does to animals. You are very lucky they got her calmed down. Glad to hear she is doing better.

 

[besserheimerphat]

My wife also uses an albuterol inhaler for allergies on an as needed basis, but she hates to use it unless she's really wheezing due to the side effects. Racing heart, jittery feeling, slight tremble in hands, etc.

 

[ianoconnor]

Thanks for the well wishes, guys.

 

[Clonefan94]

Albuterol is no joke. It's still a prescribed medication for a reason. I have to use it on rare occassions, but none the less, it almost never travels with me and is on the top shelf of our hall closet. I think the "Inhaler" thing is made fun of enough on TV and in movies, that people conisider the medication more of a joke than it really is. I hope everything works out well for your pup.

 

[ISUME]

Thank you for sharing this information, I will make sure my inhaler is always secure from now on.

 

[ISU_phoria]

Hope all ends well and thanks for sharing. I have a son with asthma (uses albuterol) and a small dog. I'll definitely make sure the dog can't possibly access the meds now.