Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Puppy with brain injury and low sodium treated with salt supplements
By Jackson, Elizabeth et al.Ā·Published in Frontiers in veterinary scienceĀ·2025Ā·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United StatesĀ·View original on PubMed ā
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research ā every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work ā
Original publication title: Case Report: Presumed cerebral salt wasting syndrome in a 10-week-old German Shorthaired Pointer.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-week-old German Shorthaired Pointer was brought in after suffering a traumatic brain injury and was found to be very lethargic and unable to move its legs. X-rays showed a skull fracture and bleeding in the brain. The dog was treated with surgery, but it continued to have low blood volume and sodium levels. To help, the vet gave intravenous hypertonic saline and extra sodium, which improved the dog's condition. This case highlights a rare condition called cerebral salt-wasting syndrome, showing how important sodium levels are in recovery after brain injuries.
People also search for: puppy brain injury treatment Ā· German Shorthaired Pointer sodium deficiency Ā· dog with low sodium levels
Abstract
This case report describes a rare presentation of cerebral salt-wasting syndrome (CSW) in a 10-week-old German Shorthaired Pointer following a traumatic brain injury. The patient presented stuporous and tetraplegic with advanced imaging revealing a depressed skull fracture and active brain hemorrhage. Following surgical intervention, the dog exhibited persistent hypovolemia and hyponatremia prompting treatment with intravenous hypertonic saline and enteral sodium supplementation. Positive response to sodium supplementation, coupled with elevated fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA) despite clinical improvement, supported the diagnosis of CSW. This report contributes novel insights into CSW in veterinary medicine, emphasizing the distinctive features of its presentation, diagnostic considerations, and treatment responses. The clinical utility of FEUA as a diagnostic tool is highlighted for the first time in a canine patient, providing a valuable tool for differentiation. This information enhances veterinary practitioners' awareness, facilitating more accurate diagnoses and tailored treatment strategies for similar cases in the future.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40212947/