Evaluating the effect of equine tetanus antitoxin on mortality rates of dogs affected by tetanus

TL;DR

This study examines whether giving equine tetanus antitoxin to dogs with tetanus affects their survival rates.

Contribution

The study evaluates the effectiveness of equine tetanus antitoxin in reducing dog mortality from tetanus using existing case-control studies.

Findings

Administering equine tetanus antitoxin did not reduce mortality rates in dogs with tetanus.

There was no significant difference in survival to discharge between treated and untreated dogs.

The evidence supporting the use of antitoxin is weak and inconclusive.

Abstract

In dogs with tetanus, does administering the equine tetanus antitoxin compared to not administering the antitoxin reduce mortality rates?

Treatment.

Three studies were reviewed for this Knowledge Summary, all of which were retrospective case-control studies.

Weak.

There was no difference in survival to discharge between dogs treated and dogs not treated with equine tetanus antitoxin.

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.