ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical signs and outcome following ivermectin overdose in a bearded dragon. This case also describes the novel use of intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) as a rescue therapy in reptiles, as well as the use of aggressive gastrointestinal decontamination. CASE SUMMARY: A 4-year-old female intact bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) (0.6 kg) was admitted to the ICU at a specialty hospital following accidental overdose of 40 mg (66.7 mg/kg) of ivermectin enterally. The patient was physically inverted to allow passive reflux of the medication, then sedated for gastric lavage. A 20% ILE was administered intravenously due to the high risk for fatality. Additional treatments included 2 doses of activated charcoal, as well as SC fluids, enteral nutrition, and sucralfate. The patient was profoundly sedate until day 4 when mild improvements in mentation were noted. The patient started ambulating on its own on day 6 and was discharged from the hospital on day 13. The patient was alive 720 days postdischarge. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: This is the first case report describing the events following ivermectin overdose and the use of ILE therapy and activated charcoal in a bearded dragon. These therapies were tolerated with no adverse effects noted in this patient. This report provides evidence that complete recovery from ivermectin overdose is possible.
