Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with spinal vein blood clot confirmed by MRI before retreatment
By Lai, T K & Jull, P·Published in Journal of the South African Veterinary Association·2025·The Veterinary Specialty Clinic for Anesthesia and Neurology (VSCAN), Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine vertebral venous thrombosis: confirmatory MRA before retreatment following symptom recurrence.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 18-month-old female spayed Siberian Husky Mix was brought in for cervical pain and weakness in all four legs. An MRI showed a rare blood clot in the veins of her spine, but there was no pressure on the spinal cord. She was treated with a blood thinner called clopidogrel and pain relief, which helped her improve significantly. Unfortunately, her symptoms returned after 20 weeks, and a follow-up MRI confirmed the clot was still there. After restarting treatment, her symptoms resolved completely, showing that with the right care, this condition can be managed effectively.
People also search for: dog cervical pain treatment · Siberian Husky weakness · dog blood clot treatment · canine venous thrombosis symptoms · clopidogrel for dogs
Abstract
Venous thrombosis within the internal vertebral venous plexus is a rare occurrence in both human and veterinary medicine. This case report details the evaluation and management of an 18-month-old female spayed Siberian Husky Mix diagnosed with internal vertebral venous plexus thrombosis after presenting with cervical pain and mild tetraparesis. Initial imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed asymmetric enlargement of the right internal vertebral venous plexus without evidence of spinal cord compression. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was unremarkable. The dog was treated with clopidogrel and analgesics, leading to significant clinical improvement. However, clinical signs recurred after 20 weeks, prompting a repeat MRI that confirmed persistent thrombus. The treatment regimen was reinitiated, resulting in resolution of clinical signs. This case underscores the need for specific guidelines regarding the diagnosis and management of venous thrombosis in veterinary patients, as current literature predominantly references human medicine. The report also highlights the potential role of advanced imaging techniques, such as phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), in diagnosing vascular conditions in veterinary practice.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41776761/