A retrospective study of 61 cases of spontaneous canine epistaxis (1998 to 2001).
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and identify possible clinicopathologic indicators of the diseases associated with canine epistaxis.


METHODS
The medical records of 61 dogs with epistaxis were reviewed.


RESULTS
Systemic diseases, diagnosed in fifty-six dogs, included canine leishmaniasis in twenty-three dogs, canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in twenty-two, concurrent canine leishmaniasis and canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in six, rodenticide toxicity in two and primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, suspected oestrogen toxicity and systemic arterial hypertension in one dog each. Intranasal diseases were documented in the remaining five dogs, including transmissible venereal tumour in three dogs, and nasal adenocarcinoma and nasal aspergillosis in one dog each. Mucosal pallor and a generalised bleeding tendency were significantly more common among dogs with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis compared with those with canine leishmaniasis, whereas the opposite was true for peripheral lymphadenomegaly. Also, dogs with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis presented with pancytopenia more frequently compared with those with canine leishmaniasis; in the latter dogs, the median values of haematocrit, leucocyte and platelet counts and serum total protein concentrations were higher.


CONCLUSIONS
Canine leishmaniasis and canine monocytic ehrlichiosis are the leading causes of canine epistaxis in Greece. Mucosal pallor, bleeding tendency and pancytopenia are more likely to be indicative of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, as opposed to peripheral lymphadenomegaly and hyperproteinaemia in canine leishmaniasis.
Mylonakis
M E
ME
Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 11 Stavrou Voutrya Str., 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Saridomichelakis
M N
MN
Lazaridis
V
V
Leontides
L S
LS
Kostoulas
P
P
Koutinas
A F
AF
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000506:poisoning
D012378:Rodenticides