BackgroundIntervertebral disc herniation is a common cause of spinal cord injury (SCI) causing paralysis and sensory loss. Little quantitative information is available on the loss and recovery of sensation in dogs with SCI.ObjectivesTo determine whether quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be used to establish thermal and mechanical sensory thresholds in chrondrodystrophoid dogs and compare thresholds among normal dogs and dogs with different grades of SCI.AnimalsThirty‐three client‐owned chondrodystrophoid dogs: 15 normal and 18 SCI dogs.MethodsThermal testing was performed by placing a hot (49°C) and cold (5°C) probe on the dorsal metatarsus and mechanical thresholds were tested using calibrated forceps to apply force to the lateral digit. Stimuli were applied until acknowledged, and response rate, latency, and force applied to response were recorded. Test‐retest repeatability was determined by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients. Response rates were compared using logistic regression and thresholds were compared using Kaplan–Meier Survival curves.ResultsTesting was feasible with moderate repeatability. Thresholds and response rates were significantly different between normal and SCI dogs for all modalities (P < .001). When dogs were grouped by their clinical grade, each grade was significantly different from normal dogs, and cold stimuli differentiated among all grades.Conclusion and clinical importanceSensory thresholds can be measured reliably in chondrodystrophoid dogs and are altered by SCI. The differences in sensation among neurologic grades indicate that these techniques can be used to further characterize recovery of SCI dogs.

Background: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) suffer pain associated with Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia (CMSM). People suffer from a similar condition and describe numerous sensory abnormalities. Sensory changes have not been quantified in affected CKCS.Objectives: To use quantitative sensory testing (QST) to quantify thermal and mechanical thresholds in CKCS and to compare QST in dogs with and without syringomyelia (SM).Animals: Forty-four CKCS.Methods: Prospective study. Dogs underwent neurological examinations and craniocervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thermal testing was performed over the humerus and thorax (n = 32); mechanical testing was performed on the paw and neck (n = 44). Latencies, thresholds, and response rates were compared with presence and severity of SM on MRI, presence of pain reported by the owner and pain identified on examination.Results: Thirty dogs had SM, 30 were painful on examination, 29 were owner-reported symptomatic. Thermal and mechanical variables were not significantly different based on presence or severity of SM. Dogs with pain on examination had decreased mechanical thresholds on the paw (0.38 kg, SD = 0.18) and neck (2.05 kg, SD = 0.74) compared to thresholds of dogs without pain on examination on the paw (0.60 kg, SD = 0.30) and neck (2.72 kg, SD = 0.57; P = .021).Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Mechanical and thermal sensitivity does not appear to be related to the presence of SM, but mechanical sensitivity appears to be related to the presence of pain and clinical signs. Mechanical testing may be useful for assessing sensory abnormalities during clinical trials.

The center of pressure (COP) position reflects a combination of proprioceptive, motor and mechanical function. As such, it can be used to quantify and characterize neurologic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to describe and quantify the movement of COP and its variability in healthy chondrodystrophoid dogs while walking to provide a baseline for comparison to dogs with spinal cord injury due to acute intervertebral disc herniations. Fifteen healthy adult chondrodystrophoid dogs were walked on an instrumented treadmill that recorded the location of each dog’s COP as it walked. Center of pressure (COP) was referenced from an anatomical marker on the dogs’ back. The root mean squared (RMS) values of changes in COP location in the sagittal (y) and horizontal (x) directions were calculated to determine the range of COP variability. Three dogs would not walk on the treadmill. One dog was too small to collect interpretable data. From the remaining 11 dogs, 206 trials were analyzed. Mean RMS for change in COPx per trial was 0.0138 (standard deviation, SD 0.0047) and for COPy was 0.0185 (SD 0.0071). Walking speed but not limb length had a significant effect on COP RMS. Repeat measurements in six dogs had high test retest consistency in the x and fair consistency in the y direction. In conclusion, COP variability can be measured consistently in dogs, and a range of COP variability for normal chondrodystrophoid dogs has been determined to provide a baseline for future studies on dogs with spinal cord injury.

BackgroundCavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) suffer pain associated with Chiari‐like malformation and syringomyelia (CMSM). People suffer from a similar condition and describe numerous sensory abnormalities. Sensory changes have not been quantified in affected CKCS.ObjectivesTo use quantitative sensory testing (QST) to quantify thermal and mechanical thresholds in CKCS and to compare QST in dogs with and without syringomyelia (SM).AnimalsForty‐four CKCS.MethodsProspective study. Dogs underwent neurological examinations and craniocervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thermal testing was performed over the humerus and thorax (n = 32); mechanical testing was performed on the paw and neck (n = 44). Latencies, thresholds, and response rates were compared with presence and severity of SM on MRI, presence of pain reported by the owner and pain identified on examination.ResultsThirty dogs had SM, 30 were painful on examination, 29 were owner‐reported symptomatic. Thermal and mechanical variables were not significantly different based on presence or severity of SM. Dogs with pain on examination had decreased mechanical thresholds on the paw (0.38 kg, SD = 0.18) and neck (2.05 kg, SD = 0.74) compared to thresholds of dogs without pain on examination on the paw (0.60 kg, SD = 0.30) and neck (2.72 kg, SD = 0.57; P = .021).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceMechanical and thermal sensitivity does not appear to be related to the presence of SM, but mechanical sensitivity appears to be related to the presence of pain and clinical signs. Mechanical testing may be useful for assessing sensory abnormalities during clinical trials.