Therapeutic plasma exchange to mitigate flunixin meglumine overdose in a cria.

Abstract

To describe the use of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in the treatment of flunixin meglumine overdose in a cria. A 3-day-old alpaca cria was diagnosed with ureteral obstruction and agenesis resulting in severe bilateral hydronephrosis. During hospitalization, the cria inadvertently received a flunixin meglumine overdose of>65mg/kg. Here, we report the use of lipid emulsion and TPE to mitigate flunixin meglumine toxicosis. TPE appeared to prevent any flunixin-induced kidney or gastrointestinal injury, even in a patient with congenital defects of the urinary tract. This is the first report of the use of TPE in a cria.