by Sara Jackson

Created on: July 01, 2009

Hydrocephalus is a neurological disease that occurs when an excessive amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates within the ventricular system of the brain. While both female and male dogs are equally affected, hydrocephalus is usually diagnosed in puppies less than 18 months old, and older dogs, ages six and up. Cerebrospinal fluid can amass in the brain of young dogs, and cause the fontanel, which is the soft spot that normally closes after birth, to bulge.

Hydrocephalus occurring in puppies is caused by congenital defects, intrauterine or perinatal infections, perinatal trauma, and tumors in the central nervous system. Congenital defect is the most common cause of hydrocephalus in young dogs. Older dogs affected by hydrocephalus are not as easily detected, because the bones of the skull are already closed. Symptoms will vary in both young and older animals depending on the cause, age at presentation, how much of the brain tissue is being affected, and the amount of tissue damage. Toy breeds such as the Chihuahua, Maltese, Yorkshire terrier, English and American Bulldogs, Lhasa Apso, Pomeranian and Toy Poodles, have a higher risk of incidence.

What To Watch For:

Altered mental state

Crying out for no reason

Hyperactive/very excitable

Coma

Seizures

Hearing or visual impairment

Excessive circling

Head pressing or tilting

In order to correctly diagnose your pet with hydrocephalus, your veterinarian will need to run a series of diagnostic tests, in conjunction with obtaining a complete medical history and performing a thorough, physical examination.

Your Vet Will Perform The Following Tests:

1. Complete blood count (CBC) to check liver and kidney function.

2. A radiograph of the skull

3. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

4. Ultrasound of the brain to check for open fontanel

5. Spinal are rarely performed

6. Electroencephalogram (EEG)

7. Serum biochemistry tests to evaluate blood glucose, electrolytes and protein

8. Urinalysis along with a fecal analysis

Because large amounts of cerebrospinal fluid can press on the brain, your veterinarian will want to do a neurological assessment to evaluate your dog's mental status, level of consciousness, cranial nerve examination, gait, postural regions, spinal nerve reflexes and an examination of their sensory perception.

Once your dog has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, the goal of treatment is to minimize damage to the brain by improving the flow

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