Mae’s Miraculous Recovery After Ingesting Over 3x the Lethal Dose of 5-HTP

PORTLAND, Ore. – Mae, a 3-year-old Australian Shepherd, defied the odds after a life-threatening accidental ingestion of 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a human supplement often used for mood support. 5-HTP increases serotonin levels in the brain, and when Mae ingested over three times the lethal dose for a dog, it caused a dangerous condition known as serotonin syndrome. Thanks to the advanced technology and expert care at DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital, Mae made a miraculous recovery.

The ordeal began a year ago when Mae’s family, while at work, noticed on their home security camera that Mae was acting strangely. Nick, Mae’s dad, rushed home to find that she had ingested an entire bottle of 5-HTP capsules. The family quickly brought Mae to a local clinic in Hood River, where the team sedated her to manage seizure activity and urged them to drive to DoveLewis in Portland for her best chance of survival. With little hope, they were told the journey would be made "with a wing and a prayer."

Upon arriving at DoveLewis, Mae was in critical condition: unresponsive, unable to breathe on her own, experiencing seizures, blindness, and other signs of serotonin syndrome. The veterinary team immediately initiated continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), a dialysis-like treatment, as a last-ditch effort to help remove the toxins from her blood and support her failing organs.

Unlike traditional dialysis, CRRT runs continuously, offering gradual, gentle filtration, which was crucial for Mae’s unstable state. Over a 7-hour period, the treatment filtered out the toxins and provided the vital support her organs needed.

“We started the treatment with a very poor prognosis,” said Dr. Lindsey McGuire, DoveLewis Staff Veterinarian. “We didn’t expect her to survive, but her recovery was nothing short of miraculous. I still can’t believe we were able to send her home.”

Thanks to the advanced CRRT treatment, Mae not only survived but made a full recovery, even regaining her eyesight. Just 48 hours later after arriving, she was walking out of DoveLewis with her family, ready to go home.

Mae’s family expressed deep gratitude to the team at DoveLewis for their expertise and compassion throughout the ordeal. “Mae didn’t just survive, she’s thriving because of everyone at DoveLewis,” said Kim, Mae’s owner. “Without them, Mae wouldn’t be alive. We’re forever grateful.”

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