Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sudden neurologic signs from pituitary disease in 4 dogs
By Bertolini, Giovanna et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2007·"San Marco" Private Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pituitary apoplexy-like disease in 4 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Four dogs, including two mixed breeds, a Bordeaux Dog, and a Cocker Spaniel, suddenly showed serious neurological symptoms like depression, seizures, and vision loss. They were all around 11 years old and were diagnosed with a condition similar to pituitary apoplexy, which involves bleeding or damage in the pituitary gland. Imaging tests revealed issues in the pituitary area, and further examinations confirmed the diagnosis. Unfortunately, the outcomes for these dogs were not detailed, but this information can help vets recognize and treat similar conditions in the future.
People also search for: dog seizures treatment · why is my dog acting depressed · pituitary gland problems in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pituitary apoplexy in humans is a clinical syndrome resulting from sudden infarction, hemorrhage, or both in a normal or an adenomatous pituitary gland. OBJECTIVE: Describe a clinical syndrome in dogs similar to pituitary apoplexy in humans. ANIMALS: Four dogs exhibiting a sudden onset of neurologic signs. METHODS: A retrospective study was used, including clinical examination, computed tomography (CT), postmortem examination, and histopathology of the brain. Pituitary tissue from 3 of the dogs was subjected to immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Four dogs (2 Mongrels, 1 Bordeaux Dog, and 1 Cocker Spaniel; median age, 11 years; median body weight, 20.5 kg) presented with acute neurologic signs including depression (n = 3), behavioral changes (n = 1), vision loss (n = 1), seizures (n = 1), and collapse (n = 1). CT disclosed suprasellar infarction, hemorrhage, or both associated with a pituitary macroadenoma in 3 dogs and a frank hemorrhage in a nonadenomatous pituitary gland in 1 dog. CT findings were correlated with postmortem findings, and pituitary apoplexy was confirmed by histopathology and immunocytochemistry of the pituitary tissue. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This study provides histopathologic evidence of pituitary apoplexy in dogs. The results are relevant for future diagnosis and treatment of pituitary disease in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18196734/