Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Beagle dog with seizures and brain bleeding after stroke
By Nikita M. Joshi et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2026·Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zydus Research Centre, Zydus Lifesciences Limited, Ahmedabad, India, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Case Report: Post-stroke hemorrhagic infarction in a status epilepticus Beagle dog
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 4.5-year-old male Beagle was brought in for severe seizures that wouldn't stop, which were caused by a stroke and bleeding in the brain. The dog experienced multiple seizures over five days and showed signs of severe muscle stress and dehydration. Despite treatment with medications to control the seizures and manage brain swelling, the dog did not improve and sadly passed away. An examination revealed significant brain damage due to bleeding and cell death, highlighting the challenges of treating seizures related to strokes in dogs.
People also search for: Beagle seizures treatment · dog stroke symptoms · why is my dog having seizures
Abstract
This case describes the acute neuropathology of a 4.5-year-old male Beagle that presented with status epilepticus and a simultaneous post-stroke hemorrhagic infarction. The clinical course involved 5 days of refractory cluster and generalized seizures, during which the patient remained in a “grave” borderline threshold on the Modified Glasgow Coma Scale. Initial hematobiochemical analysis revealed marked elevated levels of serum creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase, indicating severe muscular exertion, alongside dehydration and a 30% decline in serum albumin levels. Concurrent absolute monocytosis and neutropenia were observed, reflecting a systemic neuroinflammatory response. Treatment included intravenous diazepam boluses followed by a constant rate infusion of oral potassium bromide and hypertonic saline to manage suspected cerebral edema; however, the animal remained refractory to therapy. A gross examination at necropsy showed that the frontal lobe had multifocal tarry red subarachnoid and parenchymal hemorrhage extended to the olfactory bulb with a contralateral dull gray focus of infarction. Histopathological analysis confirmed multifocal thrombosis and liquefactive necro-hemorrhagic foci, accompanied by significant neuronal degeneration and spongiosis. The newly formed vessels in the peri-infarct regions demonstrated robust expression of VEGF-A and reticulin, which is an early marker of inflammatory extracellular matrix changes, while mature collagen and elastin were completely absent. These findings indicate that the observed vascular proliferation was an acute and active process rather than a pre-existing lesion, contrasting with previous findings on chronic epilepsy in dogs. This case reinforces the critical role of VEGF-A-driven angiogenesis and vascular growth in the development of acute structural epilepsy in dogs. Furthermore, the case exhibits features of post-stroke epilepsy, indicating a potential tissue-based marker that could enhance the detection of seizure recurrence through advanced imaging and assist in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1764817