Fibrinolysis (aka weak clots)
What is fibrinolysis?
Fibrinolysis describes a tendency to experience delayed bleeding after surgery or injury. It is caused by a rapid breakdown in the normal blood clots (containing fibrin) that form during surgery or injury. Affected dogs appear to have normal clotting abilities but instead of stabilising the clot over hours to days, the body starts the process of breaking down clots occurs too early, allowing for the injured blood vessels to leak again (24–48 hrs) after initially stopping.
Bruising 48 hours after a routine spay surgery
What are the symptoms of fibrinolysis?
Fibrinolysis is typically seen externally as (extensive) bruising of the skin around sites of injury or surgery or excessive bleeding after tooth removal/nail injuries.
In some cases, skin bruising happens in combination with a bloody discharge from cuts or surgical wounds. There may also be delayed sloughing of the skin and tissue under the skin.
How is fibrinolysis treated?
No treatment is required on daily basis. If an injury occurs that causes bleeding, you should control blood loss at time of injury with pressure/paddings and be aware that blood loss may continue 24–48 hrs after injury.
For dogs known to have fibrinolysis that need to have surgery, we may treat pre- and post-operatively with a drug called transexamic acid. Pre-operative therapy with medication called vasolamin is also used in some cases.