Evaluation of thromboprophylaxis medications in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a gastrointestinal disease of dogs that can be challenging to treat. Whether these dogs suffer from thromboembolic events (abnormal clotting events) remains controversial but many veterinarians anecdotally report complications regarding thrombosis and thromboembolic events in dogs with PLE. No advanced imaging longitudinal prospective studies to evaluate the prevalence of thrombosis have been performed in this population of dogs.

Thromboprophylaxis (medications used for the prevention of a blood clot or thrombosis) may also be prescribed in dogs with PLE and if medications are started for this purpose, there is currently no data on the safety of these medications.

The purpose of this study is to recruit 40 client-owned dogs diagnosed with PLE, dividing the group into 20 dogs without a documented thrombosis and 20 dogs with a documented thrombosis at initial diagnosis. These patients would undergo advanced imaging (CT scans of the thorax and abdomen) to document the presence, location, and number of clots at initial diagnosis and serially post-diagnosis at 2 months and 6 months. Patients would also have traditional diagnostics performed as part of the study and typical routine monitoring (such as blood work) at baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months. The results of this study could help better inform veterinarians of the likelihood of thrombosis in PLE dogs and also the safety of thromboprophylaxis medications when they are prescribed.

Blood work following the diagnosis of PLE at 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 6 months are all covered as part of the study and the all CT scans and anesthesia are covered as part of the study as well.