Splenic Infarction Followed by Cerebral Infarction in a Dog

Abstract

An 11‐year-old neutered female miniature dachshund presented with thrombocytopenia and multifocal lesions of the spleen. The day before, the dog developed a sudden onset of left-side paralysis and blindness. Blood coagulation analysis showed elevated plasma D-dimer levels. Multifocal hypoechoic wedge-shaped regions that lacked Doppler color flow were detected by abdominal ultrasound. Magnetic resonance images were consistent with a territorial cerebral infarction affecting the lateral right cerebral hemisphere. Splenic and cerebral infarctions were suspected, and the dog was treated with antithrombotic agents. The dog recovered clinically, and there has been no recurrence at the time this paper was submitted (11 months after discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy, on Day 118). In this case, it was suspected that multifocal infarctions were caused by a hypercoagulable state of pancreatitis, because the dog had a history of symptoms corresponding to pancreatitis. No other diseases that could cause thrombosis were suspected.