Ivermectin toxicosis in a foal: Use of intravenous lipid emulsion therapy.
Abstract: This report describes a case of ivermectin toxicosis in a 4-day-old thoroughbred colt successfully treated with intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) without complications. This case supports the use of ILE as a safe and effective therapy for the management of lipophilic drug toxicosis in foals. Key clinical message: Ivermectin toxicosis, though rare in equine neonates, can occur following accidental overdose and induces severe neurologic signs. In this case, ILE administration resulted in rapid neurologic improvement and complete recovery without adverse effects, supporting its use as a safe and effective antidote for lipophilic drug toxicosis in foals. Toxicose à l’ivermectine chez un poulain : traitement avec une émulsion lipidique intraveineuseCe rapport décrit un cas de toxicose à l’ivermectine chez un poulain pur-sang de 4 jours, traité avec succès par une émulsion lipidique intraveineuse (ELI) sans complications. Ce cas plaide en faveur de l’ELI comme traitement sûr et efficace pour la prise en charge de la toxicose aux médicaments lipophiles chez le poulain.Message clinique clé :La toxicose à l’ivermectine, bien que rare chez les équins nouveau-nés, peut survenir à la suite d’un surdosage accidentel et induire des signes neurologiques graves. Dans ce cas, l’administration d’ELI a entraîné une amélioration neurologique rapide et une guérison complète sans effets indésirables, ce qui plaide en faveur de son utilisation comme antidote sûr et efficace contre la toxicose aux médicaments lipophiles chez les poulains.(Traduit par D Serge Messier).
Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
Publication Date: 2025-09-01 PubMed ID: 40927256PubMed Central: PMC12416110
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- Case Reports
- Journal Article
Summary
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Overview
- This study reports on a 4-day-old thoroughbred foal that developed ivermectin poisoning due to accidental overdose.
- The foal was successfully treated with intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) therapy, which led to rapid neurological recovery without complications.
Introduction to Ivermectin Toxicosis in Foals
- Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug commonly used in horses, but accidental overdose can lead to toxicosis, especially in vulnerable neonates.
- Toxicosis manifests primarily with severe neurological symptoms due to the drug’s effect on the nervous system.
- Although rare in newborn foals, ivermectin overdose can be a serious clinical situation requiring effective and rapid treatment.
Case Details
- The subject was a 4-day-old thoroughbred colt that accidentally received an ivermectin overdose.
- As a result, the foal exhibited severe neurological signs indicative of toxicosis.
- The clinicians opted to use intravenous lipid emulsion therapy as a treatment method.
Intravenous Lipid Emulsion (ILE) Therapy
- ILE therapy involves the administration of a fat-based emulsion intravenously, which acts as a “lipid sink” to bind and neutralize lipophilic (fat-soluble) toxins in the bloodstream.
- This technique reduces the free concentration of the toxic drug, thereby alleviating its harmful effects on the nervous system.
- ILE has been used in various species and for different lipophilic drug overdoses but is less documented specifically in neonatal foals.
Treatment Outcomes
- Following administration of ILE, the foal showed rapid improvement in neurological status.
- The recovery was complete without any adverse side effects or complications observed during or after treatment.
- This successful outcome supports the efficacy and safety of ILE therapy in treating lipophilic drug toxicosis in neonatal horses.
Clinical Significance
- This case adds important clinical evidence regarding the management of ivermectin toxicosis in equine neonates.
- It emphasizes that ILE therapy can be safely used as an effective antidote in such cases, providing a potential standard treatment option for similar toxicities.
- Veterinarians should consider ILE therapy when managing accidental ivermectin overdoses or other lipophilic drug poisonings in foals to improve prognosis.
Summary
- The research documents a rare but critical case of ivermectin overdose causing neurological toxicosis in a neonatal foal.
- By applying intravenous lipid emulsion therapy, clinicians achieved a swift and full recovery without adverse events.
- This case underscores the relevance of ILE as a therapeutic tool in veterinary toxicology for lipophilic drug overdoses in foals and potentially other species.
Cite This Article
APA
Darby S, DeNotta S, Gomez DE.
(2025).
Ivermectin toxicosis in a foal: Use of intravenous lipid emulsion therapy.
Can Vet J, 66(9), 1004-1008.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA (Darby, DeNotta, Gomez); Abu Dhabi Equine and Camel Hospital, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Gomez).
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA (Darby, DeNotta, Gomez); Abu Dhabi Equine and Camel Hospital, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Gomez).
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA (Darby, DeNotta, Gomez); Abu Dhabi Equine and Camel Hospital, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Gomez).
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Antiparasitic Agents / poisoning
- Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / therapeutic use
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Ivermectin / poisoning
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