Introduction

The agent of heartworm disease is Dirofilaria immitis. Bloodsucking mosquitoes (dipteral: Culicidae) are always vectors of Dirofilaria, especially in the Po River Valley, an endemic area, in which the environmental conditions of temperature and humidity promote the growth of mosquitoes.

Objectives

Effectiveness evaluation of Rivaroxaban in association with chlorhydrate melarsomine and doxycycline hydrochloride to prevent thromboembolism in 12 dogs. The prevention of thromboembolic complications have been monitoring for five weeks by measuring of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombine time (PT).

Methods

Subjects: 12 adults, mixed breed, 7 male and 5 female dogs.
Time period: from January 2015 to November 2016.
Tester: Snap Idexx® HW, CHW Ag Isomedic®.

Test results: 7 dogs with microfilaria circulating in the bloodstream and 5 dogs without microfilaria but positive to Snap Idexx® HW, CHW Ag Isomedic®.

Materials: Rivaroxaban (0,35 mg/kg/DIE/OS) for 5 weeks, with single dose of chlorhydrate melarsomine (2,5 mg/kg/IM) and doxycycline hydrochloride (10 mg/kg/BID).

Results

Rivaroxaban use in dogs prevents pulmonary embolism and other severe coagulopathies. PT and aPTT monitored for 5 weeks have been inside the limits range.

Conclusions

The prevention of coagulation disorders and easy administration are the goals of the therapy with Rivaroxaban, even if the efficacy must be showed in larger sample, especially for side effects. Of course the treatment with Rivaroxaban can be a good alternative tool to the usual treatment to prevent thromboembolism.