Cullen's sign and haemoglobinuria as presenting signs of retroperitoneal haemorrhage in a dog.
Haemoglobinuria and periumbilical discoloration (also known as Cullen's sign) are clinical signs uncommonly reported in veterinary patients. This report describes a case of retroperitoneal haemorrhage in a dog, associated with haemoglobinuria and Cullen's sign. To the authors' knowledge, these clinical signs have not previously been reported singularly or in combination with retroperitoneal haemorrhage in dogs. A neutered male Shetland sheepdog, which was presented for haematuria, also had an abdominal mass, abdominal pain and a large area of periumbilical discoloration. Laboratory studies determined that haemoglobinuria was the cause of the red-coloured urine. Abdominal radiographs suggested a splenic mass and a coeliotomy was performed. During the induction and throughout the anaesthetic period the dog was hypertensive and a large haematoma originating from the right retroperitoneal space was identified at surgery. The cause of the haemorrhage was uncertain but a ruptured phaeochromocytoma was thought possible on the basis of the persistent hypertension and the location of the haemorrhage.
Schermerhorn
T
T
Department of Pharmacology, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, USA.
McNamara
P S
PS
Dykes
N L
NL
Toll
J
J
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D004285:Dogs; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D006406:Hematoma / Q000662:veterinary; D006456:Hemoglobinuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging