Neurological signs in 23 dogs with suspected rostral cerebellar ischaemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
In dogs with ischaemic stroke, a very common site of infarction is the cerebellum. The aim of this study was to characterise neurological signs in relation to infarct topography in dogs with suspected cerebellar ischaemic stroke and to report short-term outcome confined to the hospitalisation period. A retrospective multicentre study of dogs with suspected cerebellar ischaemic stroke examined from 2010-2015 at five veterinary referral hospitals was performed. Findings from clinical, neurological, and paraclinical investigations including magnetic resonance imaging were assessed.


RESULTS
Twenty-three dogs, 13 females and 10 males with a median age of 8 years and 8 months, were included in the study. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (n = 9) was a commonly represented breed. All ischaemic strokes were located to the vascular territory of the rostral cerebellar artery including four extensive and 19 limited occlusions. The most prominent neurological deficits were gait abnormalities (ataxia with hypermetria n = 11, ataxia without hypermetria n = 4, non-ambulatory n = 6), head tilt (n = 13), nystagmus (n = 8), decreased menace response (n = 7), postural reaction deficits (n = 7), and proprioceptive deficits (n = 5). Neurological signs appeared irrespective of the infarct being classified as extensive or limited. All dogs survived and were discharged within 1-10 days of hospitalisation.


CONCLUSIONS
Dogs affected by rostral cerebellar ischaemic stroke typically present with a collection of neurological deficits characterised by ataxia, head tilt, and nystagmus irrespective of the specific cerebellar infarct topography. In dogs with peracute to acute onset of these neurological deficits, cerebellar ischaemic stroke should be considered an important differential diagnosis, and neuroimaging investigations are indicated. Although dogs are often severely compromised at presentation, short-term prognosis is excellent and rapid clinical improvement may be observed within the first week following the ischaemic stroke.
Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University Hospital for Companion Animals, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 16, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. blicher@sund.ku.dk.
Barbara
B
Thomsen
Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, Hitchin, England, SG5 3HR, UK.
Laurent
L
Garosi
Chestergates Veterinary Referral Hospital, Units E & F, Telford Court, Chestergates Road, Chester, Cheshire, England, CH1 6LT, UK.
Geoff
G
Skerritt
Fitzpatrick Referrals, Halfway Lane, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey, England, GU7 2QQ, UK.|School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, England, GU2 7TE, UK.|Stone Lion Veterinary Hospital, 41 High Street, Wimbledon, London, SW19 5AU, UK.
Clare
C
Rusbridge
Fitzpatrick Referrals, Halfway Lane, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey, England, GU7 2QQ, UK.
Tim
T
Sparrow
Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University Hospital for Companion Animals, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 16, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Mette
M
Berendt
Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University Hospital for Companion Animals, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 16, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Hanne
H
Gredal
D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
Canine; Cerebellum; Cerebrovascular accident; Infarct; Ischemic; Occlusion; Rostral cerebellar artery; Syndrome; Vestibular