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Updated: May 26, 2026
Ferric Chloride-induced Canine Carotid Artery Thrombosis: A Large Animal Model of Vascular Injury
Published on: September 7, 2018
Primary surgical bleeding and platelet function are unchanged in heartworm-infected dogs
Peyton A Cole1, Carisa Fraser2, Mandy L Wallace1
1Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
Introduction:
Heartworm-infected dogs may have changes in platelet function which can manifest as either perioperative bleeding or thrombosis, reflecting either a prothrombotic state from platelet hyperreactivity or hypocoagulability secondary to consumptive coagulopathy. We aimed to evaluate surgical bleeding in heartworm-infected dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OHE).
Methods:
Heartworm-infected (HWI, n = 11) and uninfected (UI, n = 21) dogs undergoing elective OHE were included. Dogs were anesthetized using a standard protocol, and platelet and coagulation function was evaluated using buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT), platelet function analyzer-100 (PFA-100), and thromboelastography (TEG). Bleeding from the initial skin incision was quantified using pre-weighed sponges. Variables between HWI and UI dogs were compared using t-tests or Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Tests as appropriate for data distribution.
Results:
Blood loss measured by surgical sponge weight did not differ between groups: median (25-75th percentile) was 7 g (6-10 g) in HWI dogs and 7 g (6.3-9.8 g) in UI dogs (P = 0.490). PFA-100 closure times were 79.6 ± 15 s in HWI dogs and 83.7 ± 22 s in UI dogs (P = 0.571). Similarly, no significant differences were identified between groups for CBC or TEG measurements or BMBT.
Discussion:
HWI dogs did not experience increased incisional bleeding or quantifiable differences in platelet and coagulation function tests compared to UI dogs. HWI dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy in this study did not display tendencies for perioperative hemorrhage or thrombosis.
