Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Brain scan shows trauma-related behavior changes in a dog
By S. Salden et al.·Published in Veterinary Record Case Reports·2025·View original on Semantic Scholar →
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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: The use of 99mTc‐HMPAO SPECT brain imaging for a more objective assessment of trauma‐related behavioural changes in a pet dog
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old mixed-breed dog started showing severe behavioral problems after being frightened by a nearby fireworks explosion. Before this incident, the dog had no signs of abnormal behavior. Despite various treatments, the dog's issues continued for several months without improvement. A brain scan revealed increased blood flow in a specific area of the brain, which may help understand trauma-related behavior changes in dogs. This case highlights the potential benefits of using advanced imaging techniques to assess complex behavioral issues in pets.
People also search for: dog behavioral problems after fireworks · dog trauma treatment · mixed-breed dog anxiety solutions
Abstract
A mixed‐breed dog (2 years) was presented at Ghent University for severe emerging dysfunctional behaviour following a violent fireworks explosion close to the dog. Before this event, the dog displayed no abnormal or dysfunctional behaviour. Behavioural analysis of the dog showed a progression of behavioural problems, which persisted for several months without improvement, despite different treatment efforts. Therefore, a functional brain scan was performed and revealed increased regional cerebral blood flow in the cerebellar area. This finding initiated an exploration into the potential role of functional brain imaging in diagnosing and comprehending complex canine behavioural disorders such as trauma‐related dysfunctional behaviour. This case report aims to underscore the potential application of more objective assessment methods in veterinary behavioural medicine.
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 Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/970eb16b6c8881c1a9e3bf74398f8621088ea69b