Emergency treatment methods for diphacinone sodium poisoning in dogs

Diphacinone sodium, because of its low toxicity to humans and livestock and its safety, is currently one of the common rodenticide drugs promoted for use. However, if it is not stored properly, poisoning can occur if livestock or poultry steal or accidentally eat it. The author once encountered a case in which an ornamental dog was poisoned after stealing and eating diphacinone sodium bait rice, and through comprehensive treatment measures mainly involving injection of vitamin K1, the dog was cured. The report is as follows:

1. Incidence: Lin kept an ornamental dog, female, 2 years old, weighing about 8 kg. On the morning of December 21, 1998, the owner placed rodenticide bait issued by the county patriotic health committee on the ground inside the rabbit shed at home. Because the door was not closed properly, the dog went in and stole and ate the rodenticide bait placed on the ground.

After 2 p.m. that day, the dog showed depression, a preference for lying down, refusal to eat, and foaming at the mouth, with intermittent paroxysmal spasms or whining. By 4 p.m., the owner invited me to come for diagnosis and treatment. After inquiry and analysis, it was initially diagnosed as diphacinone sodium poisoning.

2. Clinical symptoms: The affected dog was extremely listless, completely stopped eating and drinking, had white foam flowing from the mouth, and preferred to lie down and was unwilling to move. When forced to stand, the nasal cavity was dry, breathing was rapid, and body temperature was 38.5 degrees C. The affected dog intermittently showed paroxysmal tonic spasms and convulsions, and at the same time let out miserable cries. It clenched its teeth and ground them, bit the edge of its tongue until it bled, and its canine teeth even pierced through the tongue; the next day, there were bleeding spots on the oral mucosa, gums, and ocular conjunctiva, and bleeding and congested spots on the skin of the inner abdomen; on palpation, the ends of the body were cool, urine was scanty and dark yellow, and the feces contained dark red blood.

3. Diagnosis: Upon inquiry, the rodenticide bait issued by the county patriotic health committee was made by mixing diphacinone sodium with rice. Combined with the clinical manifestations, it could be preliminarily confirmed as poisoning caused by diphacinone sodium.

4. Treatment principles were comprehensive treatment measures of detoxification, sedation and antiemesis, fluid supplementation, anti-inflammation, and promotion of gastrointestinal excretion.

4.1 Specific detoxification therapy: Vitamin K1 is the specific antidote for diphacinone sodium poisoning. Each time, use 1 ml x 3-4 ampoules of human-use VK1, intramuscular injection, twice daily, for 6-7 consecutive days.

4.2 Sedation and antiemesis: Diazepam 2 ml x 1 ampoule and metoclopramide 1 ml x 2 ampoules, mixed for intramuscular injection, twice daily. Afterward, depending on the situation, the dose may be reduced day by day.

4.3 Fluid supplementation therapy: 10% glucose 100 ml + VC 5 ml x 2 ampoules, warmed and then injected intraperitoneally, twice daily.

4.4 Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory: Gentamicin 80,000 x 2 ampoules, intramuscular injection, and oral amoxicillin capsules 2 pills, twice daily.

4.5 Strengthening the body and stomach: 10% analgin 2 ml + VB1 2 ml x 2 ampoules + VB6 1 ml x 2 ampoules + inosine 2 ml x 2 ampoules, mixed for intramuscular injection, twice daily.

4.6 Nursing care: Instruct the dog owner to pay attention to keeping the dog warm and frequently administer oral rehydration salts, milk, meat-bone soup, and other nutritious liquids.

5. Experience

5.1 Diphacinone sodium is a delayed-action rodenticide. In the bodies of livestock and poultry (including humans), it mainly destroys prothrombin in the blood, leading to widespread internal and external bleeding from capillaries throughout the body as its characteristic feature. In diagnosing and treating diphacinone sodium poisoning, a preliminary diagnosis can be made by understanding and inquiring about the medical history and checking the oral cavity, tongue mucosa, lower abdomen, and inner thigh skin for bleeding spots.

5.2 VK1 is the specific drug for treating diphacinone sodium poisoning. When using this drug for detoxification, one should persist in continuous injection of VK1 for 6-7 days, and no fewer than 2 times per day, with a sufficient dose each time, in order to cure the condition.

5.3 All rodenticide drugs are toxic substances. Keepers should store them properly, and dead poisoned rodents should be collected promptly and buried deeply to avoid causing poisoning in livestock.