Papathanasiou A. DVM, Plakentia Veterinary Clinic, Athens | Timiou D. DVM, MSc Companion Animal Medicine, GPcert Oncology, Plakentia Veterinary Clinic, Athens
Introduction
Hyperviscosity syndrome (HS) is a rare clinical entity caused by polycythemia or hyperglobulinemia. We present a dog with HS as a result of severe dehydration due to diuretic therapy and heatstroke, causing relative polycythemia in a dog.
Clinical case
A 18-months-old male French Bulldog was presented in stupor. The patient had previously hospitalized to another veterinary clinic due to tachypnea and vomiting after excessive physical activity under heat stress. Intravenous diuretics had been administered there, which eventually resulted in impaired level of consciousness. In our clinic, physical examination revealed severe dehydration, bilateral miosis and congested mucous membranes. Abdominal and chest x-rays were unremarkable. Complete blood count revealed haemoconcentration, and biochemistry examination revealed elevated creatine phoshokinase and blood urea nitrogen. A presumptive diagnosis of HS, secondary to dehydration resulted from heatstroke and diuretic therapy was made. The patient received aggressive fluid therapy resulting in remarkable improvement in level of consciousness within 24 hours. After 3 days of hospitalization with fluid therapy only, the patient was alert with limited mobility, though. On 2-month follow-up visit, the dog had completely recovered.
Conclusion
HS is rare but it can be fatal. High clinical suspicion based on patient’s history and clinicopathological findings, is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment.
