[Zinc intoxication in a Yorkshire Terrier due to Euro cent ingestion]

A 5-year old, intact male Yorkshire Terrier was presented due to lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea. Clinical signs included shock, icterus and a painful abdomen. Laboratory examination revealed a severe intravascular hemolytic anemia, a thrombocytopenia and a leukocytosis. The radiographic examination revealed the presence of metallic foreign bodies in the stomach and in the intestine. After stabilisation of the patient with crystalloids, packed red blood cells, ranitidine, metamizole, amoxicilline/clavulanic acid and marbofloxacine, surgery was performed and 5 coins (10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent) were removed via esophagus and via enterotomy. In the course of disease the dog developed acute renal failure and pancreatitis. The zinc concentration in the serum was 2200 microg/dl, which was 30 times higher compared to a healthy control dog. After 21 days the dog was discharged from the hospital. On day 28 all laboratory values were within the reference range.