Disorders of Hemostasis in Small Animals Flashcards
what is hemostasis
stopping of a flow of blood
what is reduced hemostasis
bleeding
what is increased hemostasis
thrombosis
what are primary bleeding disorders (3)
- thrombocytopenia
- thrombocytopathia
- vWD
what are secondary bleeding disorders (3)
- rodenticide toxicity
- liver disease
- congenital factor deficiencies (hemophilia)
what are tertiary bleeding disorders
hyperfibrinolysis
what are mixed bleeding disorders
- DIC
- angiostrongylus vasorum
what are the steps in normal hemostasis
- primary
- secondary
- tertiary
what is primary hemostasis
formation of platelet plug
what is the secondary hemostasis
stabilization of the platelet plug –> fibrin formation
what is tertiary hemostasis
breakdown of platelet plug
aka fibrinolysis
what are the steps in primary hemostasis (4)
- vessel injury causes the release of tissue factor (TF) which is naturally found on the surface of the subendothelial collagen. Becomes exposed to the blood following injury
- blood vessel constricts in response to injury: slows the flow of blood
- platelets bind to exposed tissue factor using vWF as a bridge and become activated
- a loose plug of activated platelts is formed over the defect in vessel wall. This is only loosley held in place by vWF and interactions between platelets. Red cells are trapped amongst the platelets
what does primary hemostasis require to occur successfully (4)
- normal platelet number
- normal platelet function
- normal vWF activity
- normal vessel wall function (vasoconstriction)
what occurs during secondary hemostasis
clotting cascade (intrinsic, extrinsic, common pathways)
culminates in formation of fibrin –> cross linked into a mesh around the platelets
describe the clotting cascade pathway

what occurs in tertiary hemostasis
plasminogen is converted into plasmin which breaks down fibrin into fibrin degredation products (FDPs)

what other clinical diseases can cause epistaxis (5)
- hemostatic disorder
- hypertension
- nasal tumour
- aspergillosis
- nasal foreign body
what other clinical diseases can cause hemoabdomen (4)
- hemostatic disorder
- trauma
- post surgical
- neoplasia (splenic tumour, hepatic tumour, vena cava invasion)
what are 3 key things to diagnose a hemostatic disorder
- history
- clinical exam
- tests of hemostasis
what are specific primary hemostatic disorder clinical signs (8)
- petechiae
- echymoses
- oozing from wounds
- intraoperative bleeding
- capillary ooze
- epistaxis
- melena
- hematuria
what are the clinical signs for secondary hemostatic disorders (7)
- echymoses
- hematomas
- hemoarthrosis
- hemothorax
- hemoabdomen
- large body cavity bleeds
- subcutaneous hematomas
what are typical owner reported problems in primary hemostatic disorders
- melena
- bleeding from gums
- epistaxis
what are tests of primary hemostasis (4)
- buccal mucosal bleeding time
- platelet count
- platelet function
- vWF assays
what are tests of secondary hemostasis
- prothrombin time (PT)
- activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT)
- measure fibrinogen levels

