Warfarin Toxication Accompanied by Severe Epistaxis in a Dog

In this case, warfarin toxication manifested by severe epistaxis was reported in a dog. The material of the case was a 10-month-old German Shepherd-mixed breed dog referred to the clinic with complaints of epistaxis and the anamnesis of eating mice poison. In physical examination, the findings obtained were hyperemia in conjunctiva, petechia and ecchymosis in gingival and buccal mucosa, severe epistaxis and dyspnea. Of the coagulation parameters, marked prolongations in coagulation times and decreases in coagulation factors were detected. In haematologic and biochemical analyses, neutrophilia, thrombocytopenia, hyperfibrinogenemia, and increased activites of liver enzymes were observed. For the initial treatment, 2.5mg/kg dose of vitamin K1 was administered. On the 3rd day of the treatment, a total blood transfusion was given because of epistaxis existing to some extent. After two weeks, clinical findings and physical activities of animal were quite normal. As a result, severe epistaxis, mucosal petechia and ecchymosis, prolongations of coagulation times and decreases in coagulation factors were noticed in dog suffered from warfarin toxication. Additionally, total blood transfusion as an adjunct to the vitamin K1 administration provided a considerable improvement in the treatment.