title: Aortic thrombosis in dogs: presentation, therapy, and outcome in 26 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pathogenesis and presentation of aortic thrombosis (AT) in dogs is not well characterized and an effective antithrombotic therapy for AT in dogs has not been identified. Our goal is to report the clinical presentation and results of therapies in dogs with AT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six client-owned dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of medical records of dogs diagnosed with AT between 2003 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six dogs had an apparent primary mural aortic thrombus. None had structural heart disease at diagnosis. Twenty dogs were ambulatory with varying degrees of pelvic limb dysfunction. Duration of ambulatory dysfunction was 7.8 weeks (range 1 day-52 weeks). A majority of dogs (58%) had no concurrent conditions at diagnosis. Fourteen dogs were treated with a standard warfarin protocol for a median period of 22.9 months (range 0.5-53 months). Ambulatory function improved in all dogs treated with warfarin. Time until clinical improvement was 13.9 days (range 2-49 days). Dogs treated with warfarin did not become non-ambulatory, die or undergo euthanasia related to AT, or have a known serious hemorrhagic event.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pathogenesis of AT in dogs is distinct from that of aortic thromboembolism (ATE) in cats. Aortic thrombosis in dogs is more likely to involve local thrombosis in the distal aorta with embolization to the arteries of the pelvic limb resulting in chronic progressive ambulatory dysfunction. Chronic warfarin administration is well-tolerated and appears to be an effective short-term and long-term therapy for dogs with AT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. rwinter@cvm.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Randolph L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Cassidy D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Sedacca
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: E Christopher
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Orton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin