Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scan finds lung blood clots in awake dog with pyothorax
By Ngwenyama, Thandeka R et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2014·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography to diagnose pulmonary thromboembolism in an awake dog with pyothorax.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old female Labrador was brought in for breathing problems caused by a pyothorax, which is an accumulation of pus in the chest. Despite surgery and draining the fluid, the dog continued to have low oxygen levels. A special imaging test called contrast-enhanced CT scan was done while the dog was awake, revealing blood clots in the lungs. The vet started treatment with a blood thinner, and the dog improved, allowing her to go home just three days later.
People also search for: dog breathing problems pyothorax · Labrador pulmonary thromboembolism treatment · dog anticoagulant therapy
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To (1) describe the use of contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (CE-MDCT) for identifying pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in an awake dog with pyothorax, (2) report the first documented case of PTE associated with pyothorax in veterinary medicine, and (3) review diagnostic imaging modalities and therapeutic options for PTE. CASE SUMMARY: A 5-year, 4-month-old female neutered Labrador Retriever was presented for respiratory distress secondary to a pyothorax. The dog underwent thoracic exploratory surgery in which no underlying etiology was identified. Aerobic bacterial culture grew Streptococcus canis. The patient remained hypoxemic despite thoracocentesis and surgery. CE-MDCT was performed without general anesthesia and showed luminal-filling defects in the right cranial and right and left caudal lobar primary pulmonary arteries consistent with PTE. Anticoagulant therapy using unfractionated heparin was initiated. The dog responded well and was discharged 3 days postoperatively. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of PTE diagnosed in a dog with pyothorax using CE-MDCT.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25297073/