Inadvertent Epidural Injection of Cefazolin in a Dog

To report a case of inadvertent epidural injection of cefazolin in a dog.

A 5-year-old neutered male mixed-breed dog weighing 37.2 kg was presented to The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center's emergency room after the inadvertent epidural administration of cefazolin. The dog was referred from a primary care veterinarian, where it was being prepared for routine lateral suture cranial cruciate ligament repair. After premedication and induction, 800 mg of cefazolin (volume 8 mL) was inadvertently administered into the epidural space. Recovery from anesthesia was uneventful, with the dog showing no immediate adverse effects or seizure activity. The dog's vitals remained stable until transfer to the tertiary facility, where it exhibited signs of residual sedation that resolved appropriately over time with naloxone. The dog was monitored overnight and discharged the next day without complications observed.

Recognizing that drug and communication errors are the most common errors in medicine is a critical first step toward implementing interventions aimed at enhancing patient safety and outcomes. Although inadvertent caudal epidural injections of cefazolin have been documented in people, this case appears to be the first report in veterinary medicine.