ABSTRACT Objective To compare the outcome of treatment with extracorporeal therapy (ECT) and medical therapy (MED) in dogs with baclofen intoxication. Design Multicenter retrospective study between June 1, 2013, and October 31, 2023. Setting Six university teaching hospitals and three private specialty hospitals. Animals Eighty dogs treated for baclofen intoxication. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Twenty‐nine of 80 (36%) dogs required endotracheal intubation, and 18 (23%) required mechanical ventilation (MV). Twenty‐one (26%) dogs were treated with ECT, and 59 (74%) dogs received MED. The median estimated maximal exposure dose was 8.3 mg/kg (range: 3.6–48 mg/kg) in the ECT group and 5.7 mg/kg (range: 0.46–132 mg/kg) in the MED group ( p = 0.044). Nine of 21 (43%) dogs treated with ECT had an improvement in their level of consciousness. The mean duration of MV was 20 ± 11 h in dogs treated with ECT and 23 ± 23 h in dogs treated with MED. The median hospitalization time was 58 h (range: 17–124 h) in the ECT group and 24 h (range: 0.5–188 h) in the MED group. Survival was 95% for dogs treated with ECT and 92% for dogs treated with MED. Multivariable Poisson regression modeling was performed, controlling for estimated maximal exposure dose (mg/kg). ECT was associated with a shorter duration of MV (incidence rate ratio IRR: 0.76 95% CI: 0.58–0.99; p = 0.038). However, ECT was associated with longer hospitalization times (IRR: 1.57 95% CI: 1.45–1.71; p < 0.001). No association was found between the use of ECT and survival (odds ratio: 1.61 95% CI: 0.16–16.13; p = 0.684). Conclusions ECT is associated with high survival despite large estimated exposure doses. Although ECT was associated with a shorter duration of MV, no difference was found in survival or hospitalization time.
Chalifoux et al. (2026) studied this question.