A Dog with Sepsis and Neurological Symptoms Due to Multiple Abscesses and Anemic Infarction

Abstract

An 8-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought to us with the main complaint of lameness of the thoracic limb. Although the results of myelography and cerebrospinal fluid analysis were within normal ranges, treatment with several drugs for suspected cervical intervetebral disk protrusion was started. On day 25 after the initial medication, tonic-clonic seizure, general ataxia, strabismus, nystagmus, and reduced menace response occurred. In addition to these neurological symptoms, fever, increased white blood cells, and increased heart murmur were also seen. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a circle lesion in the white matter of the left frontal lobe, and a diffuse lesion of the right temporal lobe, but there was no enhancement after injection of contrast medium (gadolinium) in these lesions. In spite of continuous medical treatment, the dog’s general condition became worse, and the dog died on day 41. Severe pleocytosis was detected using cerebrospinal fluid collected immediately after death. Autopsy revealed swelling of the left frontal and right temporal lobes, subarachnoid hemorrhage in the parietal lobe, and intravertebral disk protrusion, which was found to press on the left nerve root C7. In addition, verruca formation on the mitral and tricuspid valves, and white puncture lesions in several internal organs were observed. Histologically, the dog was diagnosed as suffering from sepsis with multiple abscesses and anemic infarction in the brain.