Acute severe pericarditis secondary to rodenticide intoxication in a dog

BACKGROUND: Pericardial effusions are well described in dogs; however, their association with rodenticide intoxication in the canine population is not widely described. CASE DESCRIPTION: An adult mixed-breed dog was presented for 1-day history of anorexia and cough. Thoracic radiographs revealed moderate generalized cardiomegaly with globoid-shaped cardiac silhouette and mild bilateral pleural effusion. Echocardiography showed mild tamponating pericardial effusion and diffuse severe thickened pericardium. Compete blood count and blood chemistry at presentation were not specific. A coagulation profile was completed and showed severe prolongation of prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time. Intravenous therapy with vitamin K was started at 5 mg/kg BID and on follow-up echocardiography performed 12 hours later there was evidence of complete regression of the pericardial thickening and pericardial effusion. CONCLUSION: To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report describing severe pericardial thickening, constrictive pericarditis, and cardiac tamponade secondary to spontaneous anticoagulant-induced hemopericardium in dogs.