Affiliation:
1. Senior Information Scientist at the Veterinary Poisons Information Service.
Abstract
Salbutamol exposure in dogs typically occurs when they bite and pierce a salbutamol inhaler. Onset of clinical signs can be rapid. Dogs may appear anxious and distressed, and common signs include tachycardia, tachypnoea and hypokalaemia. Transient hyperglycaemia may occur. Potential complications include muscle weakness, flaccid paralysis, arrhythmias, rhabdomyolysis and oral injury from the compressed gas in some inhalers. Any dog exposed to salbutamol requires examination and evaluation. The heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiogram and electrolytes should be monitored. Treatment is aimed at correcting tachycardia and hypokalaemia, for which the treatment of choice is a non-selective beta-blocker. Salbutamol exposed dogs require hospitalisation until the heart rate and rhythm, central nervous system status and electrolytes normalise. Recovery generally occurs within 24 hours, but there is risk of persistent cardiac injury.