Neurophysiological evaluation of canine congenital hydrocephalus in three dogs

Abstract

Congenital hydrocephalus is a neurological disorder frequently observed in dogs. It is characterised by an increase of cerebrospinal fluid volume in the ventricular system that can cause atrophy of brain tissue. It can be provoked by diverse causes, as it can be idiopathic or secondary to nervous system abnormalities. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and imaging studies, but neurophysiological techniques can provide valuable information. This report describes functional changes in the brain and brainstem evaluated by electroencephalogram and auditory evoked potentials. In the three cases, the authors found alterations in background rhythm, slow waves, epileptiform activity, hypsarrhythmic tracing and positive sharp waves. These techniques allow detecting alterations in the brain bioelectrical activity that do not trigger clear clinical responses.