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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dog with sudden leg limp diagnosed with aortic blood clot

By Kirberger, Robert M & Zambelli, Anthony·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2007·Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Imaging diagnosis--aortic thromboembolism associated with spirocercosis in a dog.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

An 8-year-old female Rhodesian Ridgeback was brought in for sudden limping on her right back leg. The vet found weak blood flow in that leg and discovered a blockage in the aorta caused by a blood clot, along with an esophageal mass linked to a parasitic infection called spirocercosis. After treating her with heparin and aspirin, she initially recovered but had a recurrence of symptoms seven months later. With continued treatment, she improved again and is currently doing well without any symptoms.

People also search for: dog limping treatment · Rhodesian Ridgeback aortic thromboembolism · spirocercosis in dogs · dog blood clot symptoms

Abstract

An 8-year-old neutered female Rhodesian Ridgeback developed acute, nonneurological right pelvic limb lameness. Femoral pulsation was poor, and oscillometric blood pressure measurements between the two pelvic limbs differed markedly. A caudal aortic right external iliac embolus was detected sonographically. Radiographically, there was a caudal esophageal mass and thoracic vertebral spondylitis typical of spirocercosis. Using CT-angiography, a caudal thoracic aortic aneurysm with a mural thrombus was detected. The dog recovered following heparin and aspirin therapy but signs recurred 7 months later. Subsequently, the patient improved on treatment and remains asymptomatic. This report illustrates the value of CT-angiography in detecting aortic thrombosis in dogs with spirocercosis.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17899974/