Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with seizures and high sodium from low thirst and hormone issues
By DiBartola, S P et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1994·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hypodipsic hypernatremia in a dog with defective osmoregulation of antidiuretic hormone.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog was brought in for seizures and was found to have high sodium levels in the blood (hypernatremia). Despite drinking water, the dog continued to have high sodium levels and produced a lot of urine. Tests showed that the dog's body was not regulating water properly due to damage in the brain affecting its ability to sense hydration. Unfortunately, the dog had serious brain issues, including hydrocephalus (fluid buildup), which likely contributed to the problem. The exact cause of the brain damage couldn't be determined, but it was clear that the dog had significant neurological issues.
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Abstract
Hypernatremia was detected in a dog that was evaluated because of seizures. During hospitalization, the dog was fully conscious and remained hypernatremic when drinking voluntarily and when water was added to the food. Urine volume increased and urine osmolality decreased during an infusion of hypertonic saline (2.5% NaCl) solution, despite development of progressive hyperosmolality. There was no correlation between plasma antidiuretic hormone concentration and osmolality during the infusion study. The dog released antidiuretic hormone normally after nonosmotic stimulation (ie, apomorphine administration). These findings allowed a diagnosis of hypodipsic hypernatremia caused by destruction of hypothalamic osmoreceptors. At necropsy, there was hydrocephalus, atrophy of the septum pellucidum, and neuraxonal dystrophy of the cuneate nuclei. The underlying neurologic disease responsible for the CNS lesions could not be determined, but hydrocephalus may have led to pressure atrophy in the region of the hypothalamus that contains osmoreceptors.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8188513/