Help with bleeding dog!

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

Mike Nikolaou — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:29:15 GMT

I assume the original trauma, and the subsequent haematoma lead to extravascular haemolysis when the cells were broken down, no? In any case, the dog is doing fine now! I sent off bloods and they confirmed that he has a deficiency of factor VIII, so haemophilia A apparently.

All's well that ends well, thanks to everyone for the help!

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

Laurence Webb — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:16:26 GMT

Why would the haemophilia cause haemolysis? Wouldn't it just affect coagulation, not make red cells more fragile?

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

Mike Nikolaou — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:18:43 GMT

Thanks for all the contributions! I managed to get a clearer blood sample and sent it off and I now have PT (normal) and aPTT (increased) times...It looks like this doggy has haemophilia...

The funny thing is that I had queried the owners about any injuries in the past as haemophilia had crossed my mind but they said he hadn't had any. However, when I told them about the results and what they indicated, they mentioned that they had only had the dog for three months!:-))))

Anyway, he's not bleeding anymore and he's eating like a horse... Sent him home today, tail wagging...

Again, thanks to everyone for all the help!

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

mariette asselbergs — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:13:00 GMT

Hi Mike,

How is it going? let us know!

Mariette

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

Gerry Henry — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:45:39 GMT

2yr old cross what, have you tested for Von Willebrands?

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:47:51 GMT

Seems odd the lab couldn't get a complete blood count just because the sample was haemolysed so I would question the platelet count. If it is correct it does sound like usage rather than destruction but you couldn't rule out autoimmune thrombocyctopaenia although platelet counts are usually much lower. Have you had the results back from the lungworm test yet? I would be inclined to give a prophylactic course of Panacur just in case anyway.

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

Andrew Kent — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:33:53 GMT

I think it is difficult to focus your therapy if you can't get some lab results. Can you do a PCV in house? This would give you some information.

How many days has he been on Vit K - it takes a good few days often for this to kick in.

In the absence of diagnostics you should probably consider treating fairly generally - your platelet count suggests this is a secondary haemostatic problem most likely (a smear exam in house would also be useful to look at platelet morphology + numbers) so rodenticide toxicity would be the most common of these. If the dog is improving you could continue this treatment, if not then I would consider a fresh frozen plasma transfusion to replace clotting proteins and assess response to this.

Rodenticide dogs can take some days to improve so you may well be on the right track.

Andy

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

Mike Nikolaou — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:14:03 GMT

He has been doing "better" since I started the VitK injections, eating by himself, going for walks etc, however he still has coagulation issues as the origial incision is still oozing...

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

Mike Nikolaou — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:12:55 GMT

Altough I did ask the owner if the dog has had any surgery etc in the past (he hasnt) why would he be bleeding from areas not associated with the initial "injury"? Like oral mucosa, GI bleeding etc? And isnt it likely that by the age of 2 he would have had another episode in the past? I haven't really had a case like that in the past...

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

mariette asselbergs — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:10:28 GMT

From the story the dog must be close to needing a blood transfusion. If there are clotting problems that will take care of them, and give you time to then try to diagnose what is going on.

Any more info about this dog like has he travelled, are you in UK, possibility of ehrlichiosis? How is he doing in himself?

So far this quick opinion,

good luck

Mariette

Re: Help with bleeding dog!

Mark Holmes — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:07:26 GMT

I think there is a genetic test for primary haemophillia. Might be worth a look at.