Acquired Canine Metabolic Encephalopathies

Introduction

Numerous metabolic diseases can cause neurological signs in dogs, and metabolic neurological disorders are classified into two categories: 1) diseases resulting from inborn errors of metabolism, including lysosomal storage diseases, organic acidurias, mitochondropathies, and peroxisomal disorders, and 2) acquired diseases arising from peripheral organ dysfunction or failure that secondarily affect the nervous system. In this review, the term “acquired metabolic encephalopathy” (AME) will refer to clinical evidence of brain dysfunction arising from disease of systemic organs. Inborn errors of metabolism are reviewed elsewhere (1,2).

Key Points

• Acquired metabolic encephalopathies (AME) are a diverse group of neurological disorders characterized by aberrations in brain function resulting from disease in systemic organs.

• The clinical signs of AME typically reflect diffuse forebrain dysfunction.

• Hypoglycemia and hepatic encephalopathy are the most common etiologies of AME in dogs.

• Cerebrovascular complications of canine endocrine and metabolic disorders, such as stroke, are common in small animal practice.

• Polysystemic clinical signs and evidence of organ dysfunction are often observed on physical examination and laboratory investigations in dogs with AME.

• Prompt recognition of AME-related neurological dysfunction may allow reversion of signs with supportive care and appropriate treatment of the underlying cause.