You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a potentially fatal condition in which platelet aggregation occurs followed by activation of coagulation, and the fibrinolytic and complement cascades resulting in hyaline microthrombi in arterioles and capillaries.

DIC has been reported to be precipitated by a number of infections including :

• Angiostrongylus
• Babesia
• Dirofilaria
• Feline infectious peritonitis virus
• Gram-positive bacteria 
• Gram-negative bacteria (endotoxins)
• Infectious canine hepatitis virus
• Rickettsia

Screening tests for these diseases should be performed in cases presenting with signs of DIC which include :

• Ecchymotic haemorrhages 
• Epistaxis
• Hypofibrinogenaemia
• Petechial haemorrhages
• Prolonged clotting times
• Thrombocytopenia
• Schistocytes in blood smears

Other causes of DIC need to be ruled out, and include:

• Acute pancreatitis
• Heat stroke
• Liver disease
• Neoplasia (disseminated carcinomas,  haemangiosarcomas or  leukaemia).
• Severe Trauma

Updated January 2016