Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with sudden aortic tear causing limb lameness and seizures
By Colakoglu, E C et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2023·Veterinary Teaching Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Spontaneous type A aortic dissection in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old male Cocker Spaniel was brought in for right forelimb lameness and seizure-like episodes. During the exam, the vet noticed the dog was panting and had an increased breathing rate. Tests revealed a serious condition called aortic dissection, where a tear in the aorta caused a bulge and affected blood flow. The dog was treated with medications to help manage the condition, and remarkably, the lameness and seizures improved within 24 hours.
People also search for: Cocker Spaniel seizures · dog lameness treatment · aortic dissection in dogs · dog panting and breathing problems · dog heart murmur symptoms
Abstract
A 10-year-old male Cocker Spaniel was presented for evaluation of right forelimb lameness and seizure-like episodes. Panting with increased respiratory rate and opisthotonus were evident during the physical examination. Cardiac auscultation revealed a left basilar, grade III/VI systolic murmur. The dog was stabilized with diazepam, fluid therapy, and oxygen. Indirect arterial blood pressure measured in the left forelimb by Doppler technique revealed no abnormalities. Thoracic radiography indicated a noticeable bulge in the area of the ascending aortic arch. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed marked aortic dilatation with a mobile, floating tissue flap dividing the aorta into two lumens. Additional diagnostic studies (computerized tomography, cardiac catheterization, and angiography) were offered but not obtained. Medical management included therapy with enalapril and clopidogrel. Clinical signs, including the right forelimb lameness and seizures, resolved within 24 h. This report represents an unusual case of aortic dissection in a dog associated with neurological signs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37130493/