A serious adverse event secondary to rapid intravenous levetiracetam injection in a dog

To describe a serious adverse event as a result of rapid intravenous injection of undiluted levetiracetam in a dog.

An 8-year-old female spayed Chihuahua was evaluated for cluster seizures and tachypnea. The patient was administered an intravenous dose of undiluted levetiracetam (60 mg/kg) and immediately developed tachycardia, hyperglycemia, hypotension, and a dull mentation. The patient's blood pressure and mentation did not respond to intravenous fluid boluses but improved immediately after administration of epinephrine intravenously. The patient subsequently developed respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation, prior to cardiac arrest. Necropsy examination noted a pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltrate, pulmonary edema, and interstitial pneumonia.

This report documents a serious adverse event associated with intravenous levetiracetam administration to a dog.