Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How a chihuahua with no fibrinogen was treated for bleeding problems
By Chambers, Gregory·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2013·California Animal Hospital Veterinary Specialty Group, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Treatment of afibrinogenemia in a chihuahua.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A Chihuahua was diagnosed with afibrinogenemia, a condition where the blood lacks a protein needed for clotting, leading to prolonged bleeding. The dog showed signs of bleeding and had abnormal blood test results. Treatment involved aggressive plasma transfusions, which initially helped but did not completely stop the bleeding. After receiving more than double the standard amount of plasma, the bleeding was finally stabilized for up to two months. This case highlights the need for careful monitoring and possibly higher doses of plasma in similar situations.
People also search for: Chihuahua bleeding problem · afibrinogenemia treatment in dogs · plasma transfusion for dog bleeding
Abstract
This report discusses the diagnosis and treatment of afibrinogenemia in a Chihuahua. Prolongations of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin clotting time (TCT) together with fibrinogen assay results of either no or trace amounts of fibrinogen support a diagnosis of afibrinogenemia. Differential diagnoses include common coagulopathies, liver failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Either aggressive cryoprecipitate or plasma transfusions are required to treat afibrinogenemia. The current guidelines for treatment of coagulopathies include plasma transfusions (either 15-30 mL/kg or until both PT and aPTT are normalized). This report describes a case in which bleeding persisted 2 days after standard plasma transfusion levels were administered and PT and aPTT levels had normalized. In this case, the bleeding was stabilized for up to 2 mo after administering > 54 mL/kg plasma. In human medicine, either cryoprecipitate or fibrinogen concentrate is used to increase blood fibrinogen levels to 100 mg/dL for minor bleeding and 200 mg/dL for major bleeding. Further studies are needed; however, the author of this report suggests that aggressive transfusions and monitoring are needed in veterinary afibrinogenemia cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23148136/