INTRACRANIAL-PRESSURE IN DOGS AND CATS

Intracranial pressure often increases in animals with intracranial dis ease. After intracranial compliance is exhausted, small increases in t he volume of one of the components of intracranial tissue can cause dr amatic increases in intracranial pressure. The clinical signs of incre ased intracranial pressure are nonspecific. High intracranial pressure can lead to decreases in cerebral perfusion or to lethal brain hernia tion. The threshold at which intracranial pressure becomes pathologic has not been established. Intracranial pressure in a dog or cat can be monitored with a fiberoptic system. Various methods have been used to reduce intracranial pressure, including head elevation, diuretics, hy perventilation, aspiration of cerebrospinal fluid, barbiturates, hypot hermia, and craniotomy. Whether corticosteroids are helpful is controv ersial. No clear consensus exists on how and when to treat animals tha t are suspected to have increased intracranial pressure. Recognizing t he subtle clinical changes that occur with increasing intracranial pre ssure and treating increased intracranial pressure early in the course of the disease offer the best chance of recovery.