Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog developed severe brain problems after low adrenal crisis treatment
By Brady, C A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1999·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Severe neurologic sequelae in a dog after treatment of hypoadrenal crisis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought to the vet because it was lethargic, weak, not eating, and vomiting. Tests showed the dog had a condition called hypoadrenocorticism (low adrenal hormone levels), and treatment to stabilize its electrolytes caused a rapid increase in sodium levels. Unfortunately, this led to severe neurological issues that lasted about three weeks, but after careful monitoring and treatment, the dog eventually regained full neurological function. This case highlights the importance of closely monitoring sodium levels during treatment to prevent complications.
People also search for: dog lethargy and vomiting · hypoadrenocorticism treatment in dogs · dog neurological problems after treatment
Abstract
A 3-year-old mixed-breed dog was evaluated for lethargy, weakness, anorexia, and vomiting. The dog was dehydrated, hyponatremic, hypochloremic, and hypoglycemic. Results of an ACTH stimulation test indicated hypoadrenocorticism. Treatment to restore cardiovascular stability and serum electrolyte balance caused serum sodium concentration to increase by 32 mEq/L within 48 hours, and the dog developed severe neurologic signs that persisted for approximately 3 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebrocortical lesions on day 6 and more severe lesions, including diffuse atrophy of the cerebral hemispheres, at 23 weeks after initial evaluation; however, the dog recovered complete neurologic function. Serum sodium concentration should be monitored during treatment for hypoadrenal crisis to avoid rapid increases that can cause CNS damage.
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/10416476/