Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
West Highland terrier dog with strokes from high blood fats
By Everest, Stephen et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2020·Ontario Veterinary College Health Science Centre (Everest), Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Primary hyperlipidemia with associated ischemic strokes in a West Highland white terrier dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old spayed female West Highland white terrier was brought in due to recurring brain issues for the past four months. MRI scans showed multiple areas in the brain that indicated strokes, and blood tests revealed very high levels of fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) without any other underlying problems. The dog was treated with a low-fat diet and omega-3 supplements, leading to a complete resolution of her symptoms over the next year, along with improved blood fat levels. This case highlights a unique instance of primary hyperlipidemia causing brain injuries in a dog.
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Abstract
A 3-year-old spayed female, West Highland white terrier dog was evaluated because of a 4-month history of recurrent brain clinical signs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multifocal brain lesions consistent with ischemic injuries. Blood analysis was unremarkable aside from severe hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia with no underlying cause, suggesting primary hyperlipidemia. The patient was treated for hyperlipidemia and started on a low-fat diet and omega-3 supplementation. Clinical signs resolved over the following 12 months along with improvement in lipidemia. This represents the first reported case of MRI findings suggestive of multiple cerebrovascular injuries associated with primary hyperlipidemia in a dog, and the first primary hyperlipidemia reported in a West Highland white terrier dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33012820/