Brain surgery in dogs and cats up to a few years ago was limited to mild trauma cases, until greater accessibility of MRI occurred. Mildly displaced bone fragments usually caused by a fall or a car accident can be removed or if large enough plated back into position.
MRI images allow for accurate diagnosis and location of lesions. Brain tumours can be removed in some cases leading to symptomatic relief. Complete removal of all tumour tissue can be difficult if not impossible, and adjunctive chemotherapy or radiation therapy should be considered. The principal detrminants of successful resection of brain tumours is location and biological classification ie benign or malignant. Slow growing meningiomas are the best candidates for surgery and the prognosis is good especially in cats. Another condition that is frequently seen is syringomyelia which is most commonly associated with Cavaliers.
Syringomyelia can only be diagnosed by using MRI. Surgical decompression of the cerebellum and brain stem as treatment for syringomyelia can provide a reduction in symptoms, and is some cases can lead to significant improvement. Surigal treatment of hydrocephalus is possible but there is a significant rate of complications.
For additional information on these conditions and Neurosurgery treatments in animals and please visit our sister site PetBrainSurgery.ie
You can also learn more about our Diagnostic Facilites available here at the North Dublin Orthopaedic Animal Hospital by going to our sister site PetMRI.ie
