DOI
https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v9i1.676Abstract
PICO Question
In dogs with tetanus, does administering the equine tetanus antitoxin compared to not administering the antitoxin reduce mortality rates?
Clinical bottom line
Category of research
Treatment.
Number and type of study designs reviewed
Three studies were reviewed for this Knowledge Summary, all of which were retrospective case-control studies.
Strength of evidence
Weak.
Outcomes reported
There was no difference in survival to discharge between dogs treated and dogs not treated with equine tetanus antitoxin.
Conclusion
The current literature suggests that administering the equine tetanus antitoxin to dogs affected by tetanus had no positive or negative effect on mortality rates, though the level of evidence amongst the literature is weak.
How to apply this evidence in practice
The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources.
Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.
References
Bandt, C., Rozanski, E.A., Steinberg, T. & Shaw, S.P. (2007). Retrospective Study of Tetanus in 20 Dogs: 1988-2004. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 43(3), 143–148. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5326/0430143
Burkitt, J.M., Sturges, B.K., Jandrey, K.E. & Kass, P.H. (2007). Risk factors associated with outcome in dogs with tetanus: 38 cases (1987-2005). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 230(1), 76–83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.230.1.76
Greene, C.T. (2006). Tetanus. In: CT. Greene, ed., Infectious diseases of the dog and cat, 3rd St Louis: Saunders Elsevier, 395–402.
Zitzl, J., Dyckers J., Güssow A., Lehmann H. & Hazuchova K. (2022). Survival in canine tetanus – retrospective analysis of 42 cases (2006–2020). Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1015569
License
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