Blood clotting is necessary to your dog's survival; without it the smallest cut could let him die from blood loss. Too much blood clotting, however, can block circulation to his heart, brain or lungs, causing tissue death from lack of oxygen.
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Significance
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A dog's blood clots, says Pet MD.com, because of cells called platelets. Excessive blood clotting, or hypercoaguability, occurs when there are too many platelets.
Cause
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A blood clot can make the most energetic dog suddenly lethargic. Healthy blood contains antithrombin to prevent platelets from sticking together. Antithrombin deficiency can cause blood clots, as can cancer, hypothyroidism, immune-related anemia, pancreatitis, heartworms or intravascular coagulopathy.
Symptoms
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Lung blood clots cause sudden respiratory distress and lethargy. A clot in the aorta carrying blood away from the dog's heart causes weakness or paralysis, loss of pulse in his thighs, and painful or cold legs with a bluish cast in his toenails.
Diagnosis
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A chest X-ray will find lung or heart blood clots. A prothrombin time test will measure his blood-clotting rate, and other tests will look for any disease that might account for the clots.
Treatment
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Your dog may require hospitalization to keep him inactive during treatment with anticoagulant medication and fluids to prevent further clots. An arterial or lung clot demands oxygen cage therapy.
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