A grass seed in Dusya’s brain

Dusya presented to Dr Georgina Stewart, specialist neurologist at only four months old for progressively worsening neurological signs. What started as lethargy and vomiting turned into severe neck pain and seizures. Dusya initially underwent a CT scan and CSF tap. The CT showed widespread inflammation and swelling of the brain, a hole between her nasal cavity and skull, and possible foreign material within the brain.

Her spinal fluid results were also abnormal with an elevated white blood cell count and the presence of intracellular bacteria. These results were indicative of septic meningoencephalitis - a severe infection of the brain. It was recommended that Dusya undergo an MRI for confirmation of this foreign body and to provide further information for surgery. The MRI showed a suspected grass seed in the right side of her brain (blue arrows) leading to the infection. It is suspected the grass seed gained entrance to her brain via her nasal cavity, causing a hole in her skull!

Dusya was placed on antibiotics and pain relief and surgery to remove the source of infection was strongly recommended. The surgery carried many risks, including permanent neurological deficits and death; however, the alternative of leaving the grass seed in Dusya's brain would also eventually lead to death.

So brave Dusya underwent a craniectomy - a surgical procedure where access to the brain is achieved by removing a portion of the skull, which is then reconstructed using a custom metal implant. With the assistance of Dr. Angela Hartman (registered specialist in radiology) , Dr. Karl Mathis (specialist in small animal surgery) and Dr. Georgina Stewart (neurologist) located and successfully removed the grass seed from Dusya's brain - an amazing team effort! Now, Dusya is already getting back to what Dusya does best: being a puppy!

Dusya’s case has now been published in the journal Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound. You can read more here https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vru.13307