Magnetically elicited transcranial motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were studied in 37 dogs with type 1 intervertebral disc (IVD) disease. The waveforms were recorded from both cranial tibial muscles before and after surgery. The latencies and amplitudes obtained were compared to those of a control population (n = 14). MEPs were recordable in all dogs with mild or no neurologic deficits, but they were recordable in only 50% of ambulatory dogs that were severely ataxic. MEPs could not be elicited from nonambulatory dogs. There was a significant attenuation of the amplitudes in all clinical cases, even if the dogs demonstrated back pain alone. Significantly prolonged latencies were associated with neurologic deficits. MEPs were not good predictors of neurologic recovery. The responses obtained from the side where the disc material was found were not different from those recorded from the opposite side. MEPs were very sensitive to lesions of the spinal cord, as indicated by the significant changes in the waves in patients with mild or no neurologic deficits and in the loss of response in dogs that still demonstrated purposeful movement. Neurologic exams provided more accurate diagnoses and prognoses than did MEPs in dogs with IVD disease.

Transcranial magnetic MEP are useful to assess severity of cervical spinal cord disease in large-breed dogs. Impairment of the functional integrity of the cervical spinal cord was found even in dogs with neck pain alone.

Large defects of the hard palate can result from a congenital abnormality, trauma, or surgical treatment of oral masses. Closure of these defects can be challenging as dehiscence is common. Large, inoperable hard palate defects may be managed with prosthetic obturators, which recreate the separation between the oral and nasal cavities. This report describes the use of a palatal obturator to manage a large palatal defect that persisted after resection of a palatal fibrosarcoma. Three prior attempts at surgical closure of the defect had failed.

The sartorius muscle in the cat is a broad, sheet-like muscle which covers the craniomedial aspect of the thigh. The major portion of the blood supply arises from the proximal pole of the muscle. A single sartorius muscle can be positioned over the abdomen in a transverse manner along the pubis, to cover the entire (i.e., left and right sides) caudal 30% of the abdomen. It also can be extended in a cranial-to-caudal fashion where it covers approximately 80% of the length and 75% of the width of the ipsilateral abdomen. The sartorius muscle flap is easy to harvest and provides good coverage for defects of the caudal abdominal wall. This muscle flap was used successfully in two feline patients.

A lateral approach was used successfully in seven of 10 dogs to resolve fistulas which developed after total ear canal ablations and bulla osteotomies. The approach facilitated identification and removal of horizontal ear canal remnants in four of the 10 cases. Facial nerve function was worsened temporarily by lateral exploration in two cases. Seven cases had no fistula recurrence during follow-up, which ranged from 12 to 72 months. Three cases each had fistula recurrence one-to-two months after fistula exploration.