Berry Wong

A 7-year, 6-month-old, female neutered, Pug dog presented with lethargy, hyporexia, polydipsia, abdominal distension, and dyspnea. Point-of-care ultrasonography identified tricavitary effusions and cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis yielded 83 mL of sanguineous scintillating fluid. Clinical examination, bloodwork, echocardiography, electrocardiography, thoracic and abdominal computed tomography scans, and pericardial fluid analysis including culture and sensitivity did not identify any cardiovascular, endocrine, neoplastic, or infectious causes of the pericardial effusion. Pericardial fluid analysis identified high cholesterol concentrations and numerous cholesterol crystals on cytology, supporting a diagnosis of cholesterol pericarditis. Subtotal pericardiectomy was performed 7 weeks later to address pericardial and pleural effusions. Histopathological pericardial biopsies identified pericarditis with no neoplastic tissue detected. A pleural port was placed 4 months later to manage recurrent pleural effusion. Elective euthanasia was performed 10 weeks later citing a compromised quality of life from increasingly frequent bouts of dyspnea. This is a case report of a dog with idiopathic cholesterol pericarditis presenting with cardiac tamponade.

Background: Clinical research into hemothorax in dogs in the veterinary literature is limited, with no data assessing diagnostic criteria and prognostic factors. Hypothesis/Objectives: Describe etiologies, clinical features, treatments, outcomes, and prognostic indicators in dogs presenting with hemothorax, and assess the prevalence of dogs meeting different definitions of hemothorax. Animals: Eighty-four client-owned dogs presenting with hemothorax to a university teaching hospital (2014-2024). Methods: Single-center retrospective cohort study in the United Kingdom reviewing medical records. Cases were categorized according to their recorded cause. Selected variables were compared to survival to discharge. Varying definitions of hemothorax were compared. Results: Neoplasia (53/84, 63%), specifically hemangiosarcoma (19/53, 36%), was the most common cause of hemothorax. Pleural effusion packed cell volume (PCV) or hematocrit (HCT) > 25% that of peripheral blood was the least stringent criterion for diagnosis of hemothorax with all cases meeting this criterion. The overall survival to discharge rate was 51/84 (61%). Dogs with a neoplastic cause for their hemothorax were more likely to survive to discharge if they had surgery to address hemothorax (P < .001; odds ratio 15.0; 95%CI, 2.74-159) or if they were found to have pleural effusion PCV or HCT < 50% that of peripheral blood (P = .01; odds ratio 0.075; 95%CI, 0.002-0.641). Conclusions and clinical importance: Causes of hemothorax are diverse, with neoplasia being the most common. A universally recognized definition of hemothorax would be beneficial. Surgical management and pleural effusion PCV or HCT < 50% that of peripheral blood are positive prognostic indicators. Dogs with hemothorax can have a good short-term prognosis.

Canine steroid-responsive meningitis–arteritis (SRMA) is a systemic, immune-mediated, inflammatory disease which occasionally leads to spontaneous haemorrhage, both within and outside the central nervous system, as a possible complication. No previous studies have investigated the haemostatic profile in a cohort of dogs with SRMA using viscoelastic monitoring. The aim of this study was to assess haemostatic function in a cohort of dogs affected by SRMA using the Entegrion VCM (Viscoelastic Coagulation Monitor) Vet™ device. This was a multicentre prospective study conducted between April 2023 and April 2025 recruiting dogs with SRMA from four veterinary referral hospitals in the United Kingdom. All four research centres used the Entegrion VCM Vet™ device for evaluation of haemostasis. Twenty dogs were included in the study. One dog had a hypercoagulable VCM result, and two dogs were considered hyperfibrinolytic based on their VCM results. No dogs had any clinical signs of vascular complications (ischaemic and/or haemorrhagic stroke, haematomas, or haemorrhages). Although the pathophysiology of vascular events in dogs with SRMA remains unclear, the results of this study suggest that further investigations into the fibrinolytic system and endothelial structure in dogs affected by SRMA are warranted.

PICO Question In dogs with tetanus, does administering the equine tetanus antitoxin compared to not administering the antitoxin reduce mortality rates? Clinical bottom line Category of research Treatment. Number and type of study designs reviewed Three studies were reviewed for this Knowledge Summary, all of which were retrospective case-control studies. Strength of evidence Weak. Outcomes reported There was no difference in survival to discharge between dogs treated and dogs not treated with equine tetanus antitoxin. Conclusion The current literature suggests that administering the equine tetanus antitoxin to dogs affected by tetanus had no positive or negative effect on mortality rates, though the level of evidence amongst the literature is weak. How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.