A newly published case series co-authored by ABVT diplomates Dr. Leah Swanson, Dr. Renee Schmid, and Dr. Ahna Brutlag warns veterinarians and pet owners about a previously underrecognized hazard: hydrogel-filled cooling migraine masks that can cause severe, and sometimes fatal, poisoning in dogs.
The paper, "Residual Acrylamide in Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Cooling Masks as a Cause of Severe Toxicosis in Dogs:," appears in the International Journal of Clinical Studies & Medical Case Reports. The three diplomates authored the study alongside colleagues from Pet Poison Helpline/SafetyCall International and the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System at the University of California, Davis.
The study describes three dogs that developed rapidly progressing neurologic signs—vomiting, tremors, seizures, and ultimately death—after ingesting portions of hydrogel-based cooling head wraps marketed for migraine relief. Although the products are labeled as polyacrylamide-based, laboratory analysis of the implicated masks revealed markedly elevated concentrations of acrylamide, a known neurotoxin, ranging from 3,600 to 13,000 ppm, far above the trace residual levels expected in properly manufactured polyacrylamide products.
The authors conclude that residual acrylamide monomer, rather than the polymer itself, is the most likely cause of the toxicosis, and that even small ingestions could deliver toxic or lethal doses. With no specific antidote available, treatment remains supportive. The team emphasizes the urgent need for standardized regulatory limits on residual acrylamide in consumer hydrogel products, clearer labeling, and more complete safety data sheets.