Induction of intestinal evacuation or vomition (or both) in the dog by prostaglandin F2alpha injection: clinical potential.

Different groups of dogs were given prostaglandin F2alpha IM. The dosage range was between 0.022 and 0.555 mg/kg of body weight. Defecation, including contents from the cranial portion of the large intestine, occurred in 40% to 100% of the dogs within 3.16 to 12.5 minutes after injection depending on dosage administered. Defecation (83.3% of dogs), without vomition, occurred in dogs given a dosage of 0.111 mg/kg. Emesis (87.5% of dogs) and defecation (75.0% of dogs) were observed in dogs given a dosage of greater than or equal to 0.444 mg/kg. Emesis occurred in 1.6 to 2.6 minutes after defecation in dogs given more than 0.444 mg/kg. Latency for emesis response varied between 3.2 and 11.5 minutes. The effect of the drug lasted approximately 15 minutes, with most dogs showing a single episode of defecation or vomition (or both). Besides a marked increase in respiratory rate, side effects were minor. Seemingly, prostaglandin-F2alpha may become the preferred drug for the clinical inducement of vomition and defecation in dogs.