Pathologic classification of a late-onset peripheral neuropathy in a spontaneous Labrador retriever dog model.

Late-onset peripheral neuropathy (LPN) is a heritable canine neuropathy commonly found in Labrador retrievers and is characterized by laryngeal paralysis and pelvic limb paresis. Our objective was to establish canine LPN as a model for human hereditary peripheral neuropathy by classifying it as either an axonopathy or myelinopathy and evaluating length-dependent degeneration. We conducted a motor nerve conduction study of the sciatic and ulnar nerves, electromyography (EMG) of appendicular and epaxial musculature, and histologic analysis of sciatic and recurrent laryngeal nerves in LPN-affected and control dogs.

Neurofilament light chain concentration does not correlate with disease status in Labrador Retrievers affected with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) concentration was altered in Labrador Retrievers with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis (ILP) compared to a control population. A secondary aim was to investigate relationships between age, height, weight, and body mass index in the populations studied.

Animals: 123 dogs: 62 purebred Labrador Retrievers with ILP (ILP Cases) and 61 age-matched healthy medium- to large-breed dogs (Controls).

Comparison of D-dimer concentration and thromboelastography for diagnosis of cerebrovascular accidents in dogs: A retrospective study.

Background: Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) in dogs are diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This modality is sometimes unavailable, and CVAs can resemble other lesions on MRI. D-dimer concentration and thromboelastography (TEG) are utilized in human medicine in addition to diagnostic imaging to support diagnosis of CVAs, but their use in veterinary patients has not been assessed.

No adverse consequences associated with targeting clinical signs to initiate antimicrobial treatment of postoperative subclinical bacteriuria in dogs following surgical decompression of Hansen type I thoracolumbar disk herniation.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of postoperative bacteriuria, clinical course of subclinical bacteriuria in the absence of antimicrobial intervention, clinical signs of bacteriuria that trigger antimicrobial treatment, and outcomes for dogs with subclinical bacteriuria following surgical decompression of acute intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) Hansen type I.

Animals: Twenty client-owned dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy for acute (≤ 6 days) IVDH Hansen type I affecting the thoracolumbar spinal cord segments between August 2018 and January 2019.

Procedures: In this prospective study, dogs were serially evaluated at presentation, hospital discharge, 2 weeks postoperatively, and between 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively.

Case Report: Meningoencephalomyelitis in a Dog.

A 15-month-old male neutered Wirehaired Pointer mixed-breed dog presented with fever and cervical pain. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed neutrophilic pleocytosis with intracellular bacteria, and culture of CSF grew . The patient became non-ambulatory 3 days after CSF collection.

Fibrocartilaginous embolic encephalopathy of the cerebellum and brainstem in a cat.

A 12-year old male castrated Siamese cat was evaluated for a one-day history of mild obtundation and decerebellate rigidity. Neurological examination findings were consistent with multifocal disease including lesions within the right cerebellum and right brainstem. Investigations included hematology, biochemistry, urinalysis, and urine culture.

Cavernous sinus syndrome in dogs and cats: case series (2002-2015).

The cavernous sinus (CS) is a paired venous sinus that runs along either side of the pituitary gland on the floor of the calvarium. Cavernous sinus syndrome (CSS) refers to deficits in more than one of the cranial nerves III, IV, V, and VI, as they are in close association in this region. The purpose of this study was to identify the presenting complaints, neurologic findings, diagnosis, and outcomes in dogs and cats with confirmed cavernous sinus syndrome (CSS).

Neurological examination in healthy chinchillas ( Chinchilla lanigera).

Chinchillas are popular as laboratory models and companion animals, and they can be affected by a variety of infectious and non-infectious neurological diseases. Little information is available on making a neurological diagnosis in this species, in part because the neurological examination has not been standardized in chinchillas and the expected physiological findings in healthy chinchillas have not been reported. In this study, a standardized neurological examination was performed on 30 clinically normal chinchillas.

Meningeal dissemination of a pituitary carcinoma to the cauda equina in a dog.

An 8-year-old spayed female border collie dog was diagnosed with an invasive pituitary macrotumor. Five months after radiation therapy, the patient developed paraparesis and lumbosacral pain. Necropsy revealed a pituitary carcinoma with cauda equina drop metastasis.

Antemortem diagnosis of hydrocephalus in two Congo African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) by means of computed tomography.

Case Description: A 7-year-old and a 10-year-old Congo African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus; parrots 1 and 2, respectively) were evaluated because of neurologic deficits.

Clinical Findings: Parrot 1 had an 8- to 9-month history of lethargy and anorexia, with a recent history of a suspected seizure. Parrot 2 had a 6-month history of decreased activity and vocalizing, with an extended history of excessive water intake; a water deprivation test ruled out diabetes insipidus, and psychogenic polydipsia was suspected.

Osseous-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy in dogs: 27 cases (2000-2012).

Objective: To evaluate the signalment, neurologic examination and imaging findings, and outcome in dogs treated medically or surgically for osseous-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (OACSM).

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 27 client-owned dogs.

Surgical management of vertebral synovial cysts in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Case Description: An approximately 8-month-old female Miniature Lop rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was evaluated because of an acute onset of progressive paraparesis.

Clinical Findings: The rabbit was ambulatory paraparetic, and results of neurologic examination were consistent with a myelopathy localizing to the T3-L3 spinal cord segments. Evaluation with CT myelography revealed focal extradural spinal cord compression bilaterally at the level of the articular process joints of T12-L1.

Feline ischemic myelopathy and encephalopathy secondary to hyaline arteriopathy in five cats.

Five cats presented with acute-onset neurological signs. Magnetic resonance imaging in four cats showed a T2-weighted hyperintense spinal cord lesion that was mildly contrast-enhancing in three cats. Owing to inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid changes three cats were treated with immunosuppression.

Evaluation of therapeutic phenobarbital concentrations and application of a classification system for seizures in cats: 30 cases (2004-2013).

Objective: To determine the percentage of cats with a phenobarbital (PB) concentration between 15 and 45 μg/mL that had a ≥ 50% reduction in the number of seizures and to investigate applicability of the 2011 International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification system in cats.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 30 cats with suspected or confirmed epilepsy.

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of an intracranial cyst in an alpaca cria.

Case Description: A 7-day-old female alpaca was examined because of an acute onset of diffuse central neurologic deficits.

Clinical Findings: Diagnostic imaging with CT and MRI identified an intracranial cyst occupying approximately one-third to one-half of the dorsal portion of the cranial cavity, markedly displacing the cerebral hemispheres bilaterally.

Treatment And Outcome: Initial surgical management via trephination and needle drainage was only transiently effective at resolving the neurologic signs.

Intramedullary epidermoid cyst in the thoracic spine of a dog.

A 5 yr old female spayed mastiff was evaluated for a 3-4 mo history of paraparesis and 3 days of acutely worse paraparesis and incontinence. On magnetic resonance imaging, a spinal cord lesion was present at the ninth thoracic vertebra. The lesion was hyperintense on T2-weighted images (T2-W), and a hyperintense rim was present on T1-weighted postcontrast images.

Granular cell tumor in a lumbar spinal nerve of a dog.

A 2-year-old Great Dane dog with a 2.5-week history of progressive paraparesis was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Neurologic examination revealed nonambulatory paraparesis with reduced to absent withdrawal hind-limb reflexes and lumbar pain.

Evaluation of different computed tomography techniques and myelography for the diagnosis of acute canine myelopathy.

Forty-six dogs with either cervical (C1-C5 or C6-T2) or thoracolumbar (T3-L3) acute myelopathy underwent prospective conventional computed tomography (CT), angiographic CT, myelography, and CT myelography. Findings were confirmed at either surgery or necropsy. Seventy-eight percent of lesions were extradural, 11% were extradural with an intramedullary abnormality, 7% were intramedullary, 2% were intradural-extramedullary, and 2% had nerve root compression without spinal cord compression.

Influence of field strength on intracranial vessel conspicuity in canine magnetic resonance angiography.

Eight neurologically normal beagles were imaged using three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in a 3T magnetic resonance scanner. Four of the eight dogs were also imaged using a 1T unit for comparison. Ten intracranial arteries were consistently identified at 3T: external and internal carotid, basilar, vertebral, rostral cerebral, middle cerebral, caudal cerebral, rostral communicating, caudal communicating, and ventral spinal arteries.

Magnetic resonance imaging contrast enhancement of the trigeminal nerve in dogs without evidence of trigeminal neuropathy.

Brain magnetic resonance images from 42 dogs imaged between 2002 and 2007 were reviewed retrospectively to establish the incidence of trigeminal nerve contrast enhancement. These dogs had otherwise normal MR images and no clinical evidence of trigeminal nerve disease. Contrast enhancement of the entire trigeminal nerve was seen in 39 dogs and in the region of the trigeminal ganglion in all 42 dogs.

Diagnosis and treatment of a chronic atlanto-occipital subluxation in a dog.

A 6-year-old Labrador retriever-cross was evaluated for an abnormal gait and head carriage 6 weeks after suffering trauma. The dog was presented with an ambulatory tetraparesis and was reluctant to move his head. Myelography and computed tomography demonstrated a subluxation of the atlanto-occipital joint with compression of the spinomedullary junction and the brain stem by the occipital bone.

Treatment of traumatic cervical myelopathy with surgery, prolonged positive-pressure ventilation, and physical therapy in a dog.

Case Description: A 9-year-old dog was evaluated for traumatic cervical myelopathy after a surgical attempt to realign and stabilize the C2 and C3 vertebrae.

Clinical Findings: The dog could not ventilate spontaneously and was tetraplegic; positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) was maintained. Myelography and computed tomography revealed spinal cord compression with subluxation of the C2 and C3 vertebrae and extrusion of the C2-3 intervertebral disk.