Refractory Hypoglycemia in a Dog With Severe Zinc Intoxication

To describe hypoglycemia secondary to zinc toxicosis in a dog.

A 3-year-old spayed female Pug weighing 9.0 kg presented with lethargy and labored breathing. Diagnostic tests revealed hypoglycemia, regenerative anemia, azotemia, increased liver values, and metallic objects in the stomach. The dog was treated with IV dextrose but remained refractory to therapy for the first 5 h. A serum zinc concentration was 32.28 µg/mL (reference interval, 0.8-1.8 µg/mL). The dog was treated supportively, and the blood glucose concentration responded within hours of endoscopic removal of the metallic foreign bodies.

This case demonstrates refractory hypoglycemia associated with zinc toxicosis, which has not been previously reported in the literature.