Probable recurrent femoral artery thrombosis in a dog with intestinal lymphosarcoma

An 11-year-old mixed-breed dog was examined because of chronic diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included anemia and hypoalbuminemia, and protein-losing enteropathy was identified. Acute, unilateral, femoral artery thrombosis developed before the cause of the protein-losing enteropathy could be identified. The dog was treated with aspirin, and sensation and function of the affected limb returned over the next 5 days, but thrombosis of the opposite femoral artery then developed. The dog was euthanatized, and at necropsy, intestinal lymphosarcoma was the only disease process found. Although disseminated intravascular coagulation is a well-recognized potential complication of neoplasia in dogs, recurrent localized thrombosis, as in this dog, also can develop.