Idiopathic pericardial haemorrhage in dogs: a review of fourteen cases

The clinical and radiological findings in 14 cases of idiopathic pericardial haemorrhage are reported. Seven dogs recovered following treatment by pericardial drainage (six cases) or pericardectomy (one case). Four cases later relapsed of which two were again treated successfully. One dog apparently responded to conservative treatment but died of a relapse one month later. In the remaining six animals, which all died or were destroyed during either investigation or treatment, pericardial haemorrhage was confirmed at post-mortem examination.