Acetaminophen toxicity in cats and dogs

Acetaminophen toxicity continues to occur in veterinary patients. Dogs are more prone to the hepatic necrosis that occurs with such toxicity, whereas cats are more prone to methemoglobinemia and Heinz-body anemia. The primary goal of treatment is to decrease formation of the reactive intermediate N- acetyl-para-benzequinoneimine. In addition to reviewing acetaminophen toxic ity, this article provides insight into the mechanism for hepatic necrosis and methemoglobin development and discusses postmortem changes, treatment r egimens, and differences in toxicity between cats and dogs.