Global brain ischemia in a dog with concurrent multiorgan dysfunction syndrome after bite wound trauma.

Background: Bite wounds are one of the most common traumatic injuries in dogs and depending on their severity, location, etc., urgent care including antibiotic therapy may be necessary. Serious complications can result from these injuries, such as multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), as well as a generalized reduction in cerebral perfusion, e.g. during cardiac arrest, shock, or severe hypotension that may cause global brain ischemia (GBI).

Case Presentation: A 5-year-old spayed female Maltese dog was presented with generalized seizures, ataxia, and obtunded mentation. The dog was injured by severe bite wounds that penetrated its abdomen and had received blood transfusions, antibiotic therapy (including metronidazole and cefazoline) and underwent emergency surgery 4 days before its visit. Based on a clinical examination, intracranial hypoxic damage with elevated intra-cranial pressure and MODS were highly suspected, and GBI was confirmed following magnetic resonance imaging. Increased signal intensity diffusely distributed in the olfactory bulb and frontal, temporal, and parietal grey matter was evident on the T2-weighted and fluid attenuated inversion recovery transverse images, along with corresponding high signal intensity observed on diffusion weighted imaging. During the 10-month follow-up period, the clinical signs gradually improved, but intermittent circling and cognitive dysfunction deficits remained.

Conclusions: GBI should be included among the differential diagnoses in case of any peracute non-progressive neurological dysfunction that occurs with episodes of hypotension or hypoxia. The abnormal signal intensity observed on diffusion weighted imaging was a useful indicator for diagnosing this condition. Long-term medical management with antibiotics and anti-convulsant and anti-oxidant therapies were considered to be helpful in managing the GBI concurrent with MODS in this dog.