Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common are tiny brain bleeds in dogs on MRI scans
By Coelho, Cássia Maria Molinaro et al.·Published in PloS one·2025·Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Brazil·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Prevalence and epidemiology of presumptive cerebral microbleeds in a population of 747 dogs undergoing brain MRI: a retrospective study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 19% of dogs over ten years old showed signs of small brain bleeds (presumptive cerebral microbleeds) during MRI scans, especially in small breeds and female dogs. These microbleeds are often linked to age-related changes in the brain, such as brain shrinkage. Most affected dogs had multiple microbleeds, which were mostly located in specific areas of the brain. This suggests that as dogs age, particularly smaller and female dogs, they may be more prone to these changes.
People also search for: dog brain MRI results · small dog age-related brain changes · cerebral microbleeds in dogs · senior dog brain health · signs of brain problems in dogs
Abstract
Current advances in veterinary medicine have led to a significant increase in the longevity of dogs, and age-related brain changes have become more recognized, such as cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). However, few studies have described their occurrence and epidemiology in dogs. This retrospective study describes the signalment and MRI findings in dogs with presumptive CMBs (pCMBs) and their association with concurrent age-related changes. A database of exams obtained from a veterinary MRI diagnostic center was reviewed. Signalment information such as breed, age, sex, and concurrent MRI findings were evaluated and compared between groups. A total of 747 dogs that underwent 1.5T brain MRI with standard sequences (T2, FLAIR, T1, and T2*) were included. A total of 142 dogs (19%) met the inclusion criteria for pCMBs. The prevalence of pCMBs increased with age, especially in those older than ten years. Small breed dogs were significantly more affected than large-breed dogs. Female dogs showed higher prevalence than males, likely related to longer lifespan. Most dogs had multiple pCMBs (62%), mainly with a lobar distribution (57.7%). Brain atrophy was significantly identified concurrently with pCMBs in 61.3% of the dogs. The results of the current study support that pCMBs constitute a common age-related MRI finding in small-breed dogs and females, frequently associated with brain atrophy.
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 →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41071744/