Confirmed hops (Humulus lupulus) poisoning in dogs: A cluster of cases

Three dogs were presented to a first opinion veterinary practice on the same day in August 2024. All three had been on the same group dog walk with their usual dog walker between 10:30 and 11:30 am and then presented between 15:30 and 19:00 with clinical signs, including an increased respiratory rate and increased body temperature. One dog went into cardiorespiratory arrest shortly after presentation and died despite resuscitation efforts. The dog walker involved had raised the alarm to owners of the other dogs involved in the group walk allowing prompt presentation of two other affected dogs. They received supportive treatment and recovered uneventfully. Stomach contents from one dog and blood samples from two of the dogs were sent for toxicology testing and compounds associated with cultivated hops were identified. The dogs were strongly suspected of having eaten discarded spent hops from home brewing.