title: The use of rivaroxaban for the treatment of thrombotic complications in four dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical use of rivaroxaban in the treatment of 4 dogs with vascular thrombosis, 2 with pulmonary thromboembolism and 2 with systemic thrombosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report describes the use of a direct factor Xa anticoagulant newly approved in human patients for the treatment or prevention of arterial or venous thrombosis. The use of this medication in a clinical setting for canine patients with thromboembolism has not been described before. Two patients were treated with rivaroxaban for pulmonary thromboembolism. Decreases in thrombus size were seen in both patients, but one patient suffered acute respiratory distress and was euthanized while the other continued to do well at the time of this writing. The other 2 patients were treated for systemic thrombosis. Decreases in thrombus size were also noted. One patient later suffered hematochezia of unknown cause, and the other continued to do well at the time of this writing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first published report of the use of a new oral direct factor Xa anticoagulant in dogs in a clinical setting for the treatment of both pulmonary and systemic thrombosis. In this case series, we share our limited experience in the use of this new medication, our strategy in determining appropriate dosages, and our monitoring protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors.forename: Vicky K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, 01536. suzanne.cunningham@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors.forename: Armelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Laforcade
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D000069552:Rivaroxaban / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D000069552:Rivaroxaban
keywords: anticoagulant; direct factor Xa inhibitor; pulmonary thromboembolism