Rare canine encephalocele case highlights surgical option

A newly published case report in Animals describes what appears to be one of the very few documented surgical treatments of a canine encephalocele communicating with the nasal cavity. The authors, from BON Animal Medical Center in South Korea, reported on a young American Cocker Spaniel presented for seizures; MRI identified intracranial tissue protruding through a cribriform plate defect into the nasal cavity. Surgeons performed dorsal rhinotomy, resected the herniated tissue, and reconstructed the skull base, with the dog recovering well and remaining seizure-free on follow-up. The paper was published on May 2, 2026, and frames the case as evidence that surgery can be a viable option in selected dogs with this rare skull-base defect. (mdpi.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the report adds practical detail to a condition most clinicians will rarely see, but that can sit on the differential list for young dogs with seizures, forebrain signs, or suspected cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Prior literature suggests epileptic seizures are the most common presenting sign in dogs with meningocele or meningoencephalocele, and most reported canine cases involve intranasal lesions affecting the ethmoidal region. CT and MRI remain complementary for diagnosis, with CT helping define the skull defect and MRI clarifying whether meninges, brain tissue, or both are involved. (academic.oup.com)

What to watch: The key next question is whether additional case reports or series can clarify which dogs benefit most from surgery versus medical management, and what long-term risks remain for seizure recurrence, infection, or reconstruction failure. (frontiersin.org)