Accidental intoxication in a dog with tetramethylenedisulphotetramine: An illicit, neurotoxic rodenticide

Abstract A 9‐year‐old, female spayed, 20.7‐kg mixed‐breed dog was examined for neurologic signs after exposure to a rodenticide in Hong Kong. Confirmatory testing revealed intoxication with tetramethylenedisulphotetramine (TETS), an illicit substance. Rapid onset of tremors, ataxia and hyperthermia were noted after TETS was ingested in rat bait. Supportive therapy was initiated prior to positive identification of TETS in her urine by a novel TETS‐selective immunoassay. Follow‐up at 49 days post‐exposure revealed prolonged anorexia, weight loss, behavioural changes and ataxia. Decontamination, supportive medical management and intralipid therapy did not appear to have a significant effect on her neurologic signs. Long‐term neurologic consequences persisted in this patient, although not fatal, and we attribute this to the amount of toxicant the dog ingested. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed case report of a dog with TETS intoxication.