Cerebral haemorrhage

19 Cerebral haemorrhage




INITIAL PRESENTATION


Dull, seizures, circling.



INTRODUCTION


Haemorrhage into the nervous system may present as meningeal irritation causing neck pain or diffuse spinal pain. Lesions of the CNS may be multifocal or focal.



SIGNALMENT


A 1-year-old female Staffordshire bull terrier.



CASE PRESENTING SIGNS


Seizures.



CASE HISTORY


One month prior to referral the hindlimbs gave way during exercise. Ataxia, circling and falling backwards were noted the following day. The dog recovered and had its first seizure the day before referral.



CLINICAL EXAMINATION


The dog was obtunded and ambulatory, circling to the left and had a left head turn (Fig. 19.1).


image

Figure 19.1 Left head turn.


No ataxia was noted. The menace response was present bilaterally. Both pupils were miotic but a PLR could be detected bilaterally. The fundus looked normal.


Hopping, proprioception, and spinal reflexes were all normal. No spinal pain was found. The left upper lip was swollen and bruised (Fig. 19.2).


image

Figure 19.2 Bruised lips.


No petechiae, joint swelling, or other bruising was found.



NEUROANATOMICAL DIAGNOSIS


Left cerebrum.


The history of falling over backwards was suggestive of cerebellar disease but no sign of this was present on examination.

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Sep 3, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Cerebral haemorrhage

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