Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in the dog.
- Journal:
- Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- Wessmann, Annette et al.
- Affiliation:
- Institute of Comparative Medicine · United Kingdom
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Cerebrovascular disease affects the blood vessels that supply the brain and can lead to strokes, which happen suddenly. While strokes are common in people, they are rare in dogs but are being diagnosed more often thanks to better imaging technology like MRI. In dogs, strokes can sometimes be linked to conditions like low thyroid hormone levels, tumors, infections, high blood pressure, parasites, blood vessel issues, or problems with blood clotting, but a specific cause isn't always found. Treatment mainly focuses on supportive care, and many dogs can recover within a few weeks, especially if no other health issues are present. Overall, the outlook is generally positive if there are no underlying diseases identified.
Abstract
Cerebrovascular disease results from any pathological process of the blood vessels supplying the brain. Stroke, characterised by its abrupt onset, is the third leading cause of death in humans. This rare condition in dogs is increasingly being recognised with the advent of advanced diagnostic imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the first choice diagnostic tool for stroke, particularly using diffusion-weighted images and magnetic resonance angiography for ischaemic stroke and gradient echo sequences for haemorrhagic stroke. An underlying cause is not always identified in either humans or dogs. Underlying conditions that may be associated with canine stroke include hypothyroidism, neoplasia, sepsis, hypertension, parasites, vascular malformation and coagulopathy. Treatment is mainly supportive and recovery often occurs within a few weeks. The prognosis is usually good if no underlying disease is found.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18579421/