Agonal thrombus is infrequently discussed in veterinary forensic pathology, being misdiagnosed as postmortem coagulation. The main purpose of the present study is to confirm that agonal thrombosis is an important tool in ruling out sudden death and to characterize it by gross, histological, and immunohistochemical approaches. The investigations have been conducted on 56 domestic carnivores. Fibrin was observed as rosette—like arrangements around platelet aggregates, loose network, wave—like pattern or short fibers and the additional tendency of lines of Zahn being noted inconsistently. All agonal thrombi had positive reactions for anti—CD61 for platelets, disposed in variable—sized clumps or in a linear pattern close to endothelial cells of endocardium. The same positive reaction has been noted to anti—fibrinogen and anti—fibrin antibodies. CD45, CD68 and von Willebrand factor had a very low to absent expression. Cardiac lesions were found in 22 cases (39.29%) suggesting predisposition to agonal thrombosis in animals with cardiovascular diseases. The results prove that agonal thrombus is a third category of blood coagulation that forms strictly during agonal death. The microscopical findings describe the agonal thrombus similar to the morphology of recent thrombus vera. Given the results, the agonal thrombus is a useful tool that confirms the agonal suffering prior to death.

Tetanus is an infrequent, potentially fatal neurological disease in dogs, caused by tetanospasmin, the neurotoxin of Clostridium tetani, which reaches the central nervous system by retrograde axonal transport and blocks the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitters glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid. Dogs are comparatively resistant to the toxin, and canine reports remain scarce. This report describes generalized tetanus in a four-month-old, 13 kg male Labrador Retriever presented with an axillary wound sustained approximately one month earlier and neurological signs progressing over approximately seven days, from gait disturbance to generalized whole-body rigidity. On examination the dog showed trismus, risus sardonicus, cervical hyperextension, opisthotonos, third-eyelid protrusion, a sawhorse stance, hyperthermia and intermittent respiratory distress. The diagnosis was established clinically, following a structured neurological work-up and exclusion of the principal differentials, as confirmatory assays were unavailable. Total serum calcium was within the reference interval; serum creatine kinase was elevated; and venous blood-gas analysis indicated a mild, compensated metabolic acidosis. Management comprised metronidazole and clindamycin, equine tetanus antitoxin, diazepam, meloxicam and intensive nursing care in a low-stimulation environment. The dog improved from the first day of hospitalization and recovered without residual deficits, with no recurrence over one year of follow-up. The favorable outcome, in a young canine patient for which the literature would predict a guarded prognosis, is consistent with the absence of clinically detectable autonomic and cardiorespiratory dysfunction and with meticulous supportive care.

Hydrocephalus is a frequently observed congenital malformation of the central nervous system in domestic animals; however, its occurrence in wild species remains underreported. This study documents a clinical case of congenital hydrocephalus in a red fox cub (Vulpes vulpes) admitted to the “Visul Luanei” Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The individual exhibited neurological deficits characterized by depressed mental status, incoordination, dromomania, behavior changes, and blindness. Diagnostic imaging, including radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed a domed cranial morphology and severe dilation of the ventricular system. Notably, the lateral ventricles were markedly enlarged, with the absence of the septum pellucidum, resulting in a unified ventricular cavity. During electroencephalography (EEG) performed under general anesthesia, a high voltage and low frequency, predominantly featuring delta waves background activity was observed on all traces. Due to the poor prognosis and lack of clinical improvement, euthanasia was performed. This case contributes to the limited knowledge regarding central nervous system malformations in wild canids and underscores the need for further research on congenital neurological disorders in wildlife species.