Right stifle haemarthrosis as the primary presenting sign in a dog with splenic haemangiosarcoma

Authors: Vardenega MJ, Pearson T, Thomson M
Publication: Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Volume 52, Issue 2, pp 96-103, Jun 2022
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

Subject Terms: Clinical examination, Oncology
Article class: Clinical Report

---

Abstract:

A nine-year-old female spayed German shepherd dog was presented with a history of right hindlimb lameness that progressed to paraparesis and a marked haemarthrosis of the right stifle. Initial haematology and biochemistry were unremarkable. One month later, haematology demonstrated a regenerative anaemia, metarubricytosis and acanthocytosis. High-field magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe lumbosacral intervertebral disc extrusion. A moderate abdominal effusion and two splenic masses were visualised with abdominal ultrasonography. A routine celiotomy and peri-hilar splenectomy were performed, and haemorrhagic nodules were noted within both kidneys. Histopathology of the spleen was consistent with splenic haemangiosarcoma, and the dog was diagnosed with stage III splenic haemangiosarcoma with suspected metastasis to both kidneys and the right stifle. Postoperatively, the dog was treated with epidural methylprednisolone and Yunnan Baiyao. The dog was euthanised 30 days post-operatively due to deteriorating paraparesis and quality of life. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of haemarthrosis as the primary presenting sign in a dog with splenic haemangiosarcoma.

---