[Reproducibility of copper sulfate emesis by oral administration in dogs]

Twelve dogs were administered oral threshold doses of copper sulfate every week. In 66 out of 85 cases, dogs vomited. One dog vomited in 1st and 2nd tests, but did not respond in the other 6 tests. Excluding this one, the reproducibility was 82%. The following method is thus proposed for application in evaluating an antiemetic for oral copper sulfate. Small dogs, weighing 7-14 kg, are to be kept in a constant condition during the quarantine and tests and given the emetic once a week. The threshold dose is determined in three dose levels; 20, 40, 80 mg/head. The dogs with a threshold of more than 80 mg or latency of less than 5 min or of more than 45 min are to be excluded. Inhibition of emesis or a considerable prolongation of latency is the sign of an antiemetic action. A positive action of an antiemetic must be followed by another test with the threshold dose of copper sulfate alone. If the dog does not respond to the threshold dose after 2 administrations, the case must be excluded. To evaluate an antiemetic at least 5 cases are needed. Inhibition of more than 50% appears to be the positive response.