Butanols

What are butanols?

Butanols are organic compounds that have a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom. They are alcohols, which play an important role in organic chemistry. Alcohols can be produced by various reactions, such as the hydration of alkenes, the reduction of aldehydes or ketones or the fermentation of carbohydrates.

Butanols occur naturally in many plants and foods, such as bananas, apples, cheese or breast milk. They are also produced during the production of alcoholic beverages through the breakdown of carbohydrates. Industrially, butanols are mainly produced by the hydroformylation of propene with subsequent hydrogenation of the resulting reaction product (butanal).

Butanols have various applications as solvents, fuels or starting materials for the synthesis of other organic compounds.

How do butanols affect dogs?

The effect of butanols on dogs depends on the type, amount and duration of exposure. Butanols can enter the body via the skin, the respiratory tract or the gastrointestinal tract. They are metabolized in the liver and excreted via the kidneys.

Butanols have a similar effect to ethanol (the alcohol in alcoholic beverages), but they are more toxic. They can lead to symptoms of intoxication, such as

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• shortness of breath
• Ataxia (impaired coordination of movement)
• depression
• Unconsciousness
• coma
• death

Symptoms may vary depending on the type and amount of butanol ingested. The lethal dose for dogs is between 0.8 and 5 g/kg body weight. This corresponds to about 10 to 65 ml/kg body weight for n-butanol or 13 to 85 ml/kg body weight for tert-butanol.

Treatment of butanol poisoning in dogs consists of immediate removal of the source, administration of activated charcoal or emetics (if possible), respiratory and circulatory support, and monitoring of vital signs. There is no specific antidote for butanols.