Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Q&A 21

This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Q&A.

This five-year-old, female Cocker Spaniel presented for evaluation of decreased appetite. PCV – 38%; TS – 6.8 gm/dl; ACT – 90 seconds; platelet count – 65,000/μl.

Question	Answer		Article
What abnormality is seen here?	Evidence of petechiae.		Link to Article
Abnormalitites of which part of the coagulation system will result in these clinical signs?	The presence of petechiae suggests the presence of either a vascular or platelet abnormality (vasculitis, thrombocytopenia, thrombopathia).		Link to Article
Is the platelet count low enough to result in clinical signs of spontaneous hemorrhage?	No. If the platelet count is less than 40,000/μl, the animal may have a bleeding tendency. Spontaneous hemorrhage, however, does not usually occur until the platelet count is less than 20,000/μl.		Link to Article
Name four categories for the etiology of the coagulation abnormality. List one example for each cause.	Causes of thrombocytopenia are: decreased platelet production (myeloproliferative disease), consumption (DIC), sequestration (liver/spleen disease) destruction (immune-mediated disease)		Link to Article