Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anatomic site and etiology of hemorrhage in small versus large dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum.
- Journal:
- Veterinary surgery : VS
- Year:
- 2018
- Authors:
- Fleming, Jeremy et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at bleeding in the abdomen of dogs, comparing small dogs (those weighing 20 kg or less) to large dogs (those over 20 kg). Researchers reviewed medical records of 742 dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum, which means they had bleeding in their abdomen without an obvious cause. They found that large dogs were more likely to have bleeding from the spleen, while small dogs had more bleeding from the liver and other areas. Additionally, a type of cancer called hemangiosarcoma, which often causes spleen bleeding, was more common in large dogs. Overall, the findings suggest that the size of the dog is important when diagnosing the cause of abdominal bleeding.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare anatomic sources and underlying etiology of hemorrhage in small vs large dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum (SH). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs with SH at 2 academic institutions. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for age, breed, sex, weight, and results of imaging, surgery, necropsy, cytology, and histopathology. Dogs were divided according to body weight (≤ 20 kg = small, > 20 kg = large). Confidence intervals were calculated to estimate rates of splenic and hepatic hemorrhage in small and large dog SH populations. Multivariable regression was used to compare prevalence of anatomic sources of hemorrhage and etiology in small vs large dogs. RESULTS: We identified 742 dogs with SH, including 637 in which the anatomic site of hemorrhage was investigated. Splenic hemorrhage was diagnosed in 43.2% (95% CI, 34.3-52.4) of small dogs and 61.3% (95% CI, 57.0-65.6) of large dogs. Small dogs had lower prevalence of splenic hemorrhage (prevalence ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.58-0.87; P < .001) and higher prevalence of hemorrhage from liver (prevalence ratio, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.20-2.47; P = .003) or from another location such as retroperitoneal mass, kidney, or adrenal (prevalence ratio, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.66-4.47; P < .001) vs large dogs. Hemangiosarcoma was associated with splenic hemorrhage and occurred more frequently in large vs small dogs (P = .011). CONCLUSION: Small dogs had a lower rate of splenic hemorrhage and higher rates of hemorrhage from liver and other sites compared to large dogs. Etiologies other than splenic hemangiosarcoma were common, particularly among dogs weighing ≤ 20 kg. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Clinicians should perform diagnostics and consider body size before making presumptive diagnoses in dogs with SH.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30246401/