Abstract
Objective
To describe the indications and clinical response for dogs and cats treated with esmolol.
Design
Retrospective case series from 2003 to 2020.
Setting
Single university veterinary teaching hospital.
Animals
Twenty-two dogs and 6 cats.
Interventions
Animals received either a bolus or bolus and continuous rate infusion of the ultrashort-acting beta receptor antagonist, esmolol.
Measurements and Main Results
Twenty-two animals were treated for either a supraventricular or sinus tachycardia, 5 were treated for a ventricular tachycardia, and 1 was treated for atrial fibrillation. Esmolol was most frequently used in dogs (N = 9) who had ingested a toxin such as albuterol, amphetamine, or chocolate. Esmolol was administered at median bolus dose of 330 µg/kg (range 10–1000 µg/kg) and continued as a continuous rate infusion in 15 animals at a median dose of 50 µg/kg/min. Defining success as a reduction in heart rate of 20% or greater, esmolol therapy was considered successful in 13 of 28 animals (46%). Animals treated for a toxicosis were more likely to have a successful rate reduction than those treated for other causes (P = 0.006). Nineteen animals survived to discharge. Both treatment success (P = 0.046) and treatment for a toxicosis (P = 0.003) were associated with survival.
Conclusions
Esmolol administration was well tolerated by dogs and cats with tachycardia due to intoxication. Heart rate reduction by at least 20% was achieved in 46% of cases. Animals with toxin ingestion were more likely to be discharged from the hospital.
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, EarlyView.Wiley: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care: Table of Contents