Using the laboratory to predict thrombosis in dogs: An achievable goal?

Thrombosis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in humans and dogs; however, anti-thrombotic drugs carry a risk of bleeding and increase the cost of patient care. The ability to identify individuals at high risk of thrombosis would allow targeting of anti-coagulant therapy at those most likely to derive a net benefit. Significant advances have been made towards predicting thrombotic risk in humans using laboratory tests individually and as part of risk prediction models. Assays that have shown potential in humans include D-dimers, activated partial thromboplastin time and viscoelastic testing, all of which are available to veterinarians. This review discusses the extent to which these assays are likely to predict thrombosis in dogs, and introduces new research techniques which may have future clinical value.