Comorbidities, long-term outcome and poststroke epilepsy associated with ischemic stroke - A multicenter observational study of 125 dogs.

Abstract

Background: Little is known regarding the comorbidities and prognostic factors associated with the long-term outcome of ischemic stroke in dogs. Although poststroke epilepsy is a well-recognized syndrome in people, it is unclear if this phenomenon also occurs in dogs.

Hypothesis/objective: Document comorbidities, long-term outcome (survival and stroke recurrence), and occurrence of epileptic seizures associated with ischemic stroke.

Animals: One hundred and twenty-five client-owned dogs.

Methods: Multicenter observational study including dogs diagnosed with ischemic stroke between 2000 and 2021. Associations between comorbidities, stroke location and extent, poststroke epileptic seizures, and long-term outcome were investigated. Referring veterinarians and owners were contacted to obtain follow-up information.

Results: Fifty-two dogs (41.6%) had a comorbidity. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (20%) and proteinuria (8%). Eight dogs (6.4%) that did not survive to discharge had a territorial ischemic stroke. Overall median survival time for dogs with a comorbidity was 482 days (range, 1-3013) and 907 days (range, 1-3027) in dogs without comorbidities (Kaplan-Meier survival analysis P = .602). Twenty-four dogs (19.2%) had a suspected stroke recurrence and a total of 8/109 dogs (7.3%) developed poststroke epilepsy. No association was found between suspected stroke recurrence or development of poststroke epilepsy and survival (P = .812, P = .487).

Conclusions and clinical importance: Despite no significant difference in survival of dogs diagnosed with ischemic stroke, with or without comorbidities, investigations for underlying causes are recommended to provide appropriate treatment. Poststroke epilepsy is uncommon.