Therapy
There is not any antidote, however, supportive care may
be helpful: hospitalisation, administration of intra-venous
fluids, blood transfusions. Treatment is advocated of
ingestion of any quantity. For recent ingestions gastric
decontamination should be considered, and use of adsorbents,
but thereafter management is largely supportive. It
is important that the animals remain hydrated; antiemetics
may be given to control persistent vomiting. Nonenzymatic
reductants such as ascorbic acid may also be useful (in dog
30 mg/kg b. wt. i.v. each 6–8 h). Antioxidant prevention
(by N-acetylcysteine, vitamin E, ascorbate) of Heinz body
formation and oxidative injury in cats was recommended
by Hill et al. (2001). In severely poisoned animals blood
transfusions have been successfully employed.
Nevertheless, even taking into account that lethal effects
are infrequent in dogs, avoiding exposure to any kind of acepa in this and other domestic animal species seems to be
the best preventive health strategy.