Diminazene Aceturate Poisoning in Dogs

1 Why Poisoning Happens

Diminazene belongs to the aromatic diamidines and is a traditional broad-spectrum antiprotozoal used against trypanosomes, babesia, eperythrozoon, and leptospira. But its clinical toxicity is high and its safety margin narrow, with noticeable adverse reactions during treatment — especially in cats and dogs given too much. The recommended dose is 3.5 mg/kg; at 7 mg/kg dogs show clear central nervous system signs.

2 Symptoms

Neurological signs dominate: inability to stand, lying on the side with stiff limbs paddling, drooling, howling, absent palpebral reflex, and urinary incontinence.

3 Treatment

There is no specific antidote, so use fluid therapy, detox, elimination of toxins, liver protection, analgesia, and antispasm as supportive care. IV fluids: 100 ml 5% glucose-saline with 40 ml 50% glucose, 8 ml vitamin C, 2 ml vitamin B6, 4 ml ATP, and 200 units coenzyme A; plus 20 ml 10% calcium gluconate in 5% glucose-saline; plus 200 ml 0.9% saline with 20 g ampicillin, 10 mg dexamethasone, and 5 ml 10% potassium chloride, IV twice daily.

Atropine 2 mg intramuscularly once daily, adjusted for drooling and gut spasm. ‘Quick multi-antidote’ 20 ml plus vitamin B12 2 ml subcutaneously in the neck. Furosemide 2 ml intramuscularly. Continue three days; if the dog cannot eat, switch to nutritional support and syringe-feed liquid food.

Acupuncture from day 4 targets the severe CNS signs at points renzhong, tianmen, dazhui, taodao, and baihui, with renzhong and tianmen as the main points. Use 1 mm needles, insert gently, retain 20 minutes, and lift-thrust-twirl for 1 minute every 5 minutes, twice daily for 7 days.

4 Safe Use

The IM dose is 3.5 mg/kg, prepared as a 5–7% solution before use. The drug is toxic with a narrow safety margin: strictly control the dose and never exceed it; do not repeat — a single injection suffices. Local IM injection is irritating and can swell, so use deep, split-site injections.