Edetate Calcium Disodium
Calcium Disodium Ethylenediaminetetra-acetate
Also known as: Calcium Disodium Versenate Β· Calcium Vitis Β· Calciumedetat-Heyl Β· Chelante Β· Chelintox Β· Ledclair Β· CaEDTA Β· sodium calcium edetate Β· calcium disodium edathamil Β· calcium disodium edetate Β· calcium EDTA Β· disodium calcium tetracemate Β· E385
Reviewed by the VetSheet Veterinary TeamUpdated Apr 5, 2026Evidence-based veterinary reference
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Dosing by species
π NA β North Americaπ EU β Europe
Dogs
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead poisoning | 100 mg/kg SC divided into 4 daily doses in 5% dextrose for 5 days. May require second course of treatment, particularly if blood lead levels >0.10 ppm. Do not exceed 2 g/day and do not treat for more than 5 consecutive days. | SC | divided q6h | 5 days | π NA |
| Lead poisoning | 25 mg/kg SC four times daily for 5 days. Give as 1% solution in D5W. | SC | q6h | 5 days | π NA |
| Zinc toxicity | 100 mg/kg divided into four SC doses per day. Dilute in D5W to reduce local irritation at site of injection. | SC | divided q6h | Unknown | π NA |
| Lead or zinc toxicity | 25 mg/kg | SC | q6h | 2-5 days | π EU |
- Lead poisoning: Be sure there is no lead in GI tract before using.
- Lead poisoning: Provide a 5-7 day rest period between courses of treatment to minimize potential for nephrotoxicity.
- Zinc toxicity: Monitor serum zinc concentrations and maintain animal's hydration status.
- Lead or zinc toxicity: Dilute to 10 mg/ml in 5% dextrose before use. Total daily dose should not exceed 2 g. Dogs that respond slowly or have an initial blood lead level >4.5 ΞΌmol/l may need another 5-day course after a rest period of 5 days.
Cats
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead poisoning | 27.5 mg/kg in 15 mL D5W SC four times daily for 5 days. | SC | q6h | 5 days | π NA |
| Lead or zinc toxicity | 25 mg/kg | SC | q6h | 2-5 days | π EU |
- Lead poisoning: Recheck blood lead 2-3 weeks later and repeat therapy if greater than 0.2 ppm.
- Lead or zinc toxicity: Dilute to 10 mg/ml in 5% dextrose before use. Total daily dose should not exceed 2 g.
Small Mammals
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy metal toxicity (Chinchillas) | 30 mg/kg SC q12h | SC | q12h | Not specified | π NA |
Birds
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead poisoning (Psittacines) | 35 mg/kg IM twice daily for 5-7 days. | IM | q12h | 5-7 days | π NA |
| Lead poisoning (Raptors/Falcons) | 100 mg/kg q12h for 5-25 consecutive days. (25% CaEDTA given undiluted IM) | IM | q12h | 5-25 days | π NA |
| Lead or zinc poisoning | 30-35 mg/kg IM q12h x 3-5 days, off 3-5 days, may repeat and/or use another chelator. | IM | q12h | 3-5 days | π NA |
- Lead poisoning (Psittacines): After initial therapy, may give orally until all lead fragments are dissolved and/or passed from GI tract.
- Lead poisoning (Raptors/Falcons): Treated if blood lead was >65 micrograms/dL for 5 day courses, until blood lead was <20 micrograms/dL.
- Lead or zinc poisoning: Maintain hydration. Do not give orally. Can be used IV short term (48 hrs) at 20-35 mg/kg diluted in saline.
Horses
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead poisoning | 75 mg/kg IV slowly in D5W or saline daily for 4-5 days (may divide daily dose into 2-3 administrations per day). | IV | q24h or divided q8-12h | 4-5 days | π NA |
- Lead poisoning: Stop therapy for 2 days and repeat for another 4-5 days. Give adequate supportive and nutritional therapy.
Cattle
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead poisoning | 110 mg/kg per day in 3-4 divided doses; dilute to 1 gram/mL in D5W; first dose IV, then subcutaneously | IV/SC | divided q6-8h | Not specified | π NA |
| Lead poisoning | 67 mg/kg slow IV twice daily for 2 days; withhold dose for 2 days and then give again for 2 days. | IV | q12h | 2 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on | π NA |
| Lead poisoning | 73.3 mg/kg/day slow IV divided 2-3 times a day for 3-5 days. | IV | divided q8-12h | 3-5 days | π NA |
- Lead poisoning: FARAD recommends a 2 day meat and milk withdrawal time.
- Lead poisoning: Cattle may require 10-14 days to recover and may require several series of treatments.
- Lead poisoning: If additional therapy is required, a 2-day rest period followed by another 5-day treatment regimen is recommended.
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Overview
Edetate calcium disodium (CaEDTA) is a heavy metal chelating agent primarily used in veterinary medicine for the treatment of lead and zinc toxicosis. While succimer (DMSA) is increasingly preferred for lead poisoning in small animals due to its oral formulation and lower nephrotoxicity, CaEDTA remains a critical parenteral antidote, especially in large animals and avian species.
βCritical Clinical Pearl:β It is absolutely vital to ensure the Calcium Disodium form of EDTA is used. Administration of Disodium EDTA (Na2EDTA) without calcium can cause rapid, fatal hypocalcemia because it will aggressively chelate the patient's endogenous serum calcium.
CaEDTA is highly water-soluble and relies heavily on renal clearance, making adequate hydration and renal monitoring essential during therapy.
Mechanism of action
CaEDTA works via competitive chelation. The calcium ion in the CaEDTA complex has a lower binding affinity than heavy metals. When introduced into the bloodstream, divalent or trivalent heavy metals (such as Pb2+ or Zn2+) displace the calcium:
βCaEDTA + Pb2+ β PbEDTA + Ca2+β
The resulting heavy metal-EDTA complex is highly stable, water-soluble, and is rapidly excreted by the kidneys into the urine.
- Theoretically, 1 gram of CaEDTA binds 620 mg of lead, but in vivo, only about 5 mg of lead is excreted per gram of drug.
- It effectively chelates lead and zinc, and to a lesser extent cadmium, copper, iron, and manganese.
- It is ineffective for mercury, gold, or arsenic poisoning.
Safety & warnings
Contraindications
- Patients with anuria
- Oral (PO) administration in the presence of lead in the GI tract (enhances absorption)
Adverse effects
- Renal toxicity (renal tubular necrosis)
- Depression (dogs)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Zinc deficiency (with chronic therapy)
- Pain at IM injection site
Precautions
Use with extreme caution in patients with diminished renal function; dosage adjustments are required.
In small animals, the SC route is strongly preferred. IV administration has been associated with abrupt increases in CSF pressure and death in human pediatric patients with lead-induced cerebral edema.
Do not administer orally if lead is still present in the GI tract, as it will facilitate systemic absorption of the lead. Remove lead from the GI tract (via emesis, endoscopy, or surgery) prior to starting chelation.
Ensure adequate hydration to protect the kidneys, but avoid overhydration in animals showing clinical signs of cerebral edema.
Drug interactions
May enhance the renal toxicity of CaEDTA
Concurrent administration will decrease the sustained action of the insulin preparation due to zinc chelation
Increased risk of nephrotoxicity; use with extreme caution
Monitoring
- Blood lead or zinc levels (serial monitoring)
- Urine d-ALA
- Renal function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
- Urinalyses (monitor for casts/glucose indicating tubular damage)
- Hydration status
- Serum phosphorus and calcium values
- Periodic cardiac rate/rhythm monitoring
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Well absorbed after either IM or SC administration.
Distribution
Distributed primarily in the extracellular fluid. Does not penetrate erythrocytes or enter the CNS in appreciable amounts.
Metabolism
Not significantly metabolized.
Elimination
Rapidly excreted renally, either as unchanged drug or chelated with metals. Changes in urine pH or flow do not significantly alter excretion rate.
Overdose
Doses greater than 12 g/kg are lethal in dogs. Acute toxicity primarily manifests as severe renal tubular necrosis. It can also cause profound depression, vomiting, and diarrhea. Treatment of overdose is largely supportive, focusing on maintaining diuresis and managing uremia.
Available products
Formulations
- Injection solution: 200 mg/mL
Veterinary
- None commercially available in the USA; may be obtained through compounding pharmacies.
Human-labeled
- Edetate Calcium Disodium Injection Solution: 200 mg/mL in 5 mL ampules (1 gram/ampule) (Calcium Disodium Versenate)
Regulatory status
POM (Prescription Only Medicine)
POM-V
No regulatory data for: πΊπΈ US Β· ππ° HK Β· πΉπΌ TW Β· π―π΅ JP Β· π°π· KR Β· π¦πΊ AU
Storage & stability
Store at temperatures less than 40Β°C, preferably at room temperature (15-30Β°C). The injection can be diluted with either normal saline or 5% dextrose.
Client information
Heavy metal poisoning (such as from eating pennies, lead paint, or metallic hardware) is a serious, potentially life-threatening emergency.
- βHospitalization Required:β Because of the potential toxicity of this antidote and the severity of heavy metal intoxication, your pet will likely need to stay in the hospital for close professional supervision, injections, and IV fluids.
- βKidney Protection:β The drug works by binding the metal and forcing it out through the urine. IV fluids are critical to help flush the kidneys and protect them from damage.
- βMultiple Treatments:β Treatment often requires several days of injections, followed by a rest period, and potentially another round of injections depending on follow-up blood tests.
VetSheet drug reference is intended for licensed veterinary professionals as a clinical decision-support aid, not a substitute for professional judgement or the manufacturerβs current label.