LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcome (survival to discharge) among trauma types (blunt, penetrating, both) in dogs. The secondary objective was to evaluate if other trauma registry parameters differ between trauma types and influence survival. DESIGN Retrospective evaluation of veterinary trauma registry data. SETTING Veterinary Committee on Trauma (VetCOT) identified Veterinary Trauma Centers (VTCs). ANIMALS A total of 20,289 canine trauma patients with data entered in the VetCOT trauma registry from April 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Data were obtained from the VetCOT database and included patient demographics, trauma type (blunt, penetrating, both), Animal Trauma Triage (ATT) score, modified Glasgow Coma Scale (mGCS), abdominal fluid score (AFS), loss of glide sign on thoracic focused assessment with sonography for trauma (TFAST), pleural effusion on TFAST, surgical procedure performed and in what location (emergency room vs operating room), and outcome. Data from 20,289 dogs were collected over a 30-month period. The most common type of trauma was penetrating (10,816, 53.3%), followed by blunt (8360, 41.2%) and then combined blunt and penetrating trauma (1113, 5.5%). Dogs suffering only penetrating trauma had a 96.5% survival rate, blunt trauma had an 89.5% survival rate, and combined trauma had an 86.3% survival rate. Dogs suffering from both types of trauma had higher ATT scores, lower mGCS scores, and were more likely to be admitted to the ICU. Trauma type, mGCS, and ATT score were found to be associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS The present study highlights that dogs suffering from a combination of blunt and penetrating trauma are more likely to suffer moderate to severe injuries, have lower survival rates, and are more likely to be admitted to the ICU compared to dogs suffering from only blunt or penetrating trauma. Trauma type, mGCS, and ATT scores were found to be associated with survival in all groups.