The fibrinolytic system is activated concurrently with coagulation; it regulates haemostasis and prevents thrombosis by restricting clot formation to the area of vascular injury and dismantling the clot as healing occurs. Dysregulation of the fibrinolytic system, which results in hyperfibrinolysis, may manifest as clinically important haemorrhage. Hyperfibrinolysis occurs in cats and dogs secondary to a variety of congenital and acquired disorders. Acquired disorders associated with hyperfibrinolysis, such as trauma, cavitary effusions, liver disease and Angiostrongylus vasorum infection, are commonly encountered in primary care practice. In addition, delayed haemorrhage reported in greyhounds following trauma and routine surgical procedures has been attributed to a hyperfibrinolytic disorder, although this has yet to be characterised. The diagnosis of hyperfibrinolysis is challenging and, until recently, has relied on techniques that are not readily available outside referral hospitals. With the recent development of point‐of‐care viscoelastic techniques, assessment of fibrinolysis is now possible in referral practice. This will provide the opportunity to target haemorrhage due to hyperfibrinolysis with antifibrinolytic drugs and thereby reduce associated morbidity and mortality. The fibrinolytic system and the conditions associated with increased fibrinolytic activity in cats and dogs are the focus of this review article. In addition, laboratory and point‐of‐care techniques for assessing hyperfibrinolysis and antifibrinolytic treatment for patients with haemorrhage are reviewed.

Haemoabdomen was diagnosed in four canine patients treated for suspected anaphylaxis. The diagnosis of anaphylaxis was based on a peracute history, compatible clinical signs, good response to supportive treatment and exclusion of other causes. The haemorrhagic peritoneal effusions occurred in the absence of an initiating coagulopathic disorder and without an alternative explanation for abdominal haemorrhage. In all patients, the haemoabdomen resolved with medical management alone. Anaphylaxis should be considered a potential differential diagnosis for spontaneous haemoabdomen in dogs.

Case summary A 3-month-old entire female British Shorthair cat presented for further management of thermal burns after falling into a bath of scalding water. On presentation to the primary care clinician the kitten was obtunded, markedly painful and relatively bradycardic, consistent with a state of shock. The haircoat was wet, with erythematous skin and sloughing from the digital pads and anal mucosa. The primary care clinician administered opioid analgesia, sedation, antibiotics and started intravenous (IV) fluid therapy prior to referral. On arrival to the referral hospital the kitten was obtunded with respiratory and cardiovascular stability but was overtly painful and resistant to handling. The kitten required intensive management with IV and regional analgesia, IV broad-spectrum antibiosis, IV fluid therapy, enteral nutrition and wound management, including surgical debridement and topical antibiotic therapy. Septicaemia developed during the hospitalisation. Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cultured, and antibiosis was escalated to IV imipenem. Acute respiratory distress syndrome was suspected following the development of dyspnoea. Early enteral nutrition within 24 h of admission was initiated using an oesophageal feeding tube and a veterinary therapeutic liquid diet. Over the ensuing 72 h the kitten started voluntary intake of food alongside oesophageal tube feeds. The kitten experienced continued weight loss despite the provision of nutritional support to meet, and then later exceed, the estimated resting energy requirements. Caloric intake was gradually increased to a total of 438% of the calculated resting energy requirement using the most recent daily body weight, eventually resulting in stabilisation of weight loss and weight gain. Relevance and novel information There is limited published information on the nutritional management of veterinary patients with thermal burn injury. Hypermetabolic states related to burn injuries are induced and maintained by complex interactions of catecholamines, stress hormones and inflammatory cytokines on proteolysis, lipolysis and glycogenolysis. Secondary infections are common following burn injury and the subsequent proinflammatory state perpetuates hypermetabolism and catabolism. These states present a challenge in both predicting and providing adequate nutrition, particularly in a paediatric septic patient. This subset of patients should be monitored closely during hospitalisation to ensure body weight and condition are maintained (while taking into consideration hydration status), and caloric intake is adjusted accordingly to meet nutritional support goals. Extensive research exists regarding the nutritional requirements and metabolic derangements of people with thermal burns. However, the importance of maintaining body weight and body condition in veterinary burn patients, and the association between nutritional support and reduced morbidity and mortality, has not been investigated and remains to be elucidated.

Case summary An 8.75-year-old male neutered Burmese cat was referred for treatment of pyothorax. The cat was responsive, cardiovascularly stable and tachypnoeic (40 breaths/min) on arrival. Medical management of pyothorax was initiated, bilateral thoracic drains were placed and thoracic lavage using aliquots of saline 0.9% was performed every 4 h. Regional analgesia was provided using 1 mg/kg of intrapleural bupivacaine divided equally between the left and right hemithoraxes every 6 h. On the second day of hospitalisation, the cat developed hypersalivation, mydriasis and tonic–clonic seizure activity 25 mins after accidental intrapleural administration of a 10 mg/kg bupivacaine overdose. Cardiovascular compromise was also noted; the cat became bradycardic (120 beats/min) and blood pressure decreased to 110 mmHg. Clinical signs resolved after administration of intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) as an intravenous (IV) bolus (1.5 ml/kg over 5 mins), followed by a continuous rate infusion (0.25 ml/kg/min over 25 mins). Local anaesthetic intrapleural anaesthesia was discontinued. There was recrudescence of clinical signs 10 h post-overdose and repeat ILE 20% infusion was required. The cat was discharged with no ongoing complications. Relevance and novel information Treatment of IV local anaesthetic systemic toxicity with ILE has been reported in cats. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of intrapleural bupivacaine overdose with initial response and resolution of clinical signs followed by recrudescence and subsequent successful treatment using ILE.