title: Heinz body anemia in a dog that had been sprayed with skunk musk.
abstract: A 5-year-old pit bull-type dog was examined because of lethargy and black feces, and a presumptive diagnosis of methemoglobinemia was made on the basis of grossly visible brown discoloration of the mucous membranes and urine. Heinz body formation was seen on examination of blood smears, and severe anemia developed 3 days later. The dog did not have any history of exposure to toxins or drugs that have been associated with Heinz body formation. The only remarkable historical finding was that the dog had been wandering loose the day prior to initial examination and returned home smelling strongly of skunk spray. Skunk spray contains thiols and other compounds that are strong oxidizing agents. It was speculated that the methemoglobinemia and Heinz body anemia were a result of exposure to these compounds. Skunk interactions with dogs usually have malodorous but otherwise harmless results. However, findings in this dog suggest that more serious consequences may develop in isolated cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Zaks
authors.forename: Emmeline O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Mary Anna
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thrall
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006366:Heinz Bodies; D012889:Mephitidae; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000652:urine; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008706:Methemoglobin