title: Portal vein thrombosis in 33 dogs: 1998-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) has been reported infrequently in dogs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the presentation, associated disease conditions, and outcome in dogs with PVT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Client-owned dogs with a diagnosis of PVT and a complete medical record.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records were retrospectively analyzed for presentation, history, physical examination, clinicopathologic data, diagnostic imaging, treatment, and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three dogs were included. Common clinical signs were vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, ascites, and signs of hypovolemic shock. Associated disease conditions included hepatic (14/33), neoplastic (7/33), immune (5/33), and infectious (4/33) diseases, protein-losing nephropathy (3/33), hyperadrenocorticism (2/33), protein-losing enteropathy (1/33), and pancreatitis (1/33). Fourteen dogs were receiving glucocorticoids at the time of diagnosis. Twenty-nine dogs had at least 1 predisposing condition for venous thrombosis, and 11 had 2 or more. Thrombocytopenia (24/33), increased liver enzyme activity (23/33), and hypoalbuminemia (20/33) were common laboratory abnormalities. Clinical syndromes at the time of PVT diagnosis included shock (16/33), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), (13/33) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (3/33). Twenty-four dogs had acute and 9 had chronic PVT. Multiple thrombi were found in 17/33 dogs. Nineteen dogs survived to discharge. Dogs treated with anticoagulant therapy were more likely, whereas those with acute PVT, multiple thromboses or SIRS were less likely to survive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatic disease is a common pre-existing condition in dogs with PVT. PVT should be considered in dogs with risk factors for venous thrombosis presenting with abdominal pain, ascites, and thrombocytopenia. Studies evaluating anticoagulant therapy in the management of PVT are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, USA. meghan.respess@tufts.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Respess
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: O'Toole
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Taeymans
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: C R L
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants