Acid-Base Disturbance in a High K and High Glutathione Dog Suffering from Onion Poisoning

Abstract

Such clinical indices as acid-base disturbance and electrolytes were examined in aclinical case of hemolytic anemia presumed to be suffering from onion poisoning and an experimental case towhich onion was administered in high K and high glutathione (HK/HG) dogs. In the clinical case, on theday of admission (day 1), a drop in PCV to 15.9% and in Hb of 5.0 g/dl indicated severe anemia. On that sameday, blood HCO₃^-decreased because of metabolic acidosis. Low PCO₂, however, indicated that respiration wascompensating for the acidosis. On day 2, HCO₃^-remained low, and pH dropped to 7.25, indicating acidemia.But on day 3, HCO₃^-began to increase, and blood pH recovered to 7.38. By day 12, the anemic condition haddisappeared. Very similar results obtained in the experimental case strongly suggest that the clinical casewas caused by onion poisoning. In neither case did hyperkalemia resulting from hemolysis of HK/HG red cells occur.