A coagulopathy is any failure of the hemostatic system that leaves a dog bleeding too much, too long or in the wrong place. Some are inherited, such as von Willebrand disease and the hemophilias; many more are acquired, above all anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis, liver failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The skill the NAVLE rewards is pattern recognition: the type of bleeding plus three cheap tests (platelet count, PT, aPTT) narrow the cause to a short list, and the cause decides the treatment.
Key facts
Coagulopathy (congenital or acquired) at a glance- Species and system: dog; hemic and lymphatic (hemostasis).
- Two levels of hemostasis: primary (platelets, von Willebrand factor, vessel wall) forms the platelet plug; secondary (coagulation factors) forms the fibrin clot.
- Classic presentation: petechiae and mucosal bleeding point to a primary defect; bleeding into cavities, joints and muscles points to a factor defect.
- Most common inherited disorder: von Willebrand disease (vWD); hemophilia A (factor VIII) is the most common inherited factor deficiency.
- Most important acquired causes: anticoagulant rodenticides (vitamin K antagonism), severe liver disease and DIC; immune thrombocytopenia is the main acquired platelet cause.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 18 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.