Hemoperfusion: pulling toxins straight from the blood
When a pet ingests a dangerous drug, poison, or toxin, every minute counts. Hemoperfusion is a dialysis-like therapy that filters circulating toxins directly out of the bloodstream, giving critical patients a real chance at recovery.
A dialysis-like therapy that purifies the blood
Hemoperfusion is an extracorporeal therapy, meaning the blood is gently cleaned outside the body and then returned. As blood passes through a filter column packed with activated carbon, toxins bind to the carbon surface and are removed, while purified blood flows back to your pet.
Draw
Blood is safely circulated from your pet through sterile tubing into the filter, with the patient monitored closely the entire time.
Adsorb
Inside the column, toxins adhere to activated carbon. Unlike size-based filtration or diffusion-based dialysis, adsorption captures a broad range of molecules, from small drugs to large protein-bound substances.
Return
Clean, purified blood is returned to your pet, lowering the toxic load before it can cause lasting organ damage.
A wide range of toxins and medications
Select a category to see examples of what hemoperfusion can help clear from the bloodstream. Some exposures need treatment within hours, so call right away if you suspect a poisoning.
Drugs & Medications
Over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medications, and other drugs that can poison pets in the wrong dose.
Why hemoperfusion
For the right cases, removing toxins directly from circulation can change the outcome.
Better outcomes
Rapidly clearing toxins before irreversible organ injury occurs can improve survival rates and the quality of recovery.
Faster discharge
Direct blood purification accelerates toxin clearance, which can shorten hospital stays compared with supportive care alone.
Lower cost for owners
Fewer ICU days and less need for extended supportive medication can mean meaningful savings for families.
Reduced organ damage
Removing toxins from circulation minimizes systemic exposure, helping protect the kidneys, liver, and neurological function.
Advantages over other approaches
Reaches protein-bound drugs
More effective for many protein-bound drugs, and it does not require a complex dialysis machine.
No donor plasma needed
Handles a broader range of molecular weights without the need for donor plasma.
Works after absorption
Effective even once a toxin has been absorbed into the bloodstream, using uniform beads for safer blood contact.
Beyond poisonings: severe inflammation
The same technology can also remove inflammatory cytokines from the blood, offering an option in severe inflammatory conditions such as sepsis and SIRS, cytokine storm, and multi-organ dysfunction. Our team will determine whether a patient is a candidate.
Top 5 referral tips
The window between ingestion, redistribution, and elimination is critical. If you have a suspected toxin or poisoning case, these steps help us help your patient.
Note the toxin or drug name, the estimated amount ingested, the time since ingestion, and any treatments already initiated.
Call (888) 426-4435. They can advise whether referral is appropriate and help direct the case. ASPCA Poison Control consultations are fee-based and require a formal consultation for case-specific guidance.
Hemoperfusion works best before irreversible organ injury develops. The sooner the patient reaches us, the more we can do.
Hemoperfusion requires jugular venous access. Please avoid placing a jugular catheter prior to referral.
If candidacy is uncertain, call us and speak with an emergency clinician right away. We are glad to talk it through.
CARE partners with referring veterinarians across the region. Call (757) 703-0199 to discuss a case.
Hemoperfusion at CARE is delivered using AimaLojic ReVive Carbon Hemoperfusion technology. For veterinary use.
Suspect a poisoning? Do not wait.
If your pet may have ingested something dangerous, call CARE immediately. Time is the most important factor in toxin cases, and our team is ready to help.