Brain neoplasia is diagnosed in an increasing number of dogs. Consequently, there is a higher need for an effective treatment. Chemotherapy is considered in cases where surgery or radiation is not optional. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the difference in median survival time (MST) of dogs with intracranial masses, treated symptomatically with corticosteroids and anti-epileptic drugs, compared with the same symptomatic treatment supplemented with lomustine. The records of 71 dogs with intracranial masses were retrospectively evaluated. Fifteen dogs were treated symptomatically with corticosteroids and anti-epileptics, and 56 dogs received additional therapy with lomustine. There was no statistically significant difference in MST between both groups, being 60 and 93 days, respectively. Age, duration of symptoms, intracranial localization of the mass and intra- or extra-axial localization had no influence on survival time. However, female dogs survived significantly longer than male dogs.

Disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (DA-CSM) is the most common cause of cervical spondylomyelopathy in dogs. In this condition, progressive caudal cervical spinal cord compression is typically caused by protrusion of one or more intervertebral discs. This disc-associated compression is sometimes seen in combination with mild vertebral abnormalities and dorsal compression resulting from ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. The intervertebral disc space between the sixth (C6) and seventh (C7) cervical vertebrae is most commonly affected. Although several large breed dogs can be affected, the adult to older dobermann is overrepresented. Clinical signs vary from cervical hyperaesthesia to tetraplegia. Dogs can present with a chronic progressive or an acute onset of clinical signs. Many aspects of this multifactorial neurological syndrome are not completely understood and are the subject of controversy and debate. Although several factors have been proposed, the underlying pathology and aetiology remain unknown. Recently, new insights have been gained in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of this challenging neurological syndrome. This review outlines current controversies and new developments concerning the pathogenesis and diagnosis of DA-CSM.

Conservative treatment of disc-associated wobbler syndrome is associated with a guarded prognosis. It can be considered in cases where all four limbs are not affected and no additional radiographic and/or myelographic abnormalities are detected.

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A B S T R AC T : Idiopathic head tremor (IHT) syn-drome is a recognized but poorly characterized movement disorder in English bulldogs (EBs). The data analyzed were collected via a detailed online questionnaire and video recordings. Thirty-eight percent of the population demonstrated IHT. The first presentation was early in life. There was no sex or neutered status predisposition. The condition disappeared with time in 50% of the cases. The direction of the head movement was vertical or horizontal. The number of episodes per day and the duration of the episodes were greatly variable. The majority of episodes occurred at rest. Most of the episodes were unpredictable. And there was no alteration of the mental status for most dogs during the episodes. Stress has been reported as a suspected trigger factor. IHT in EBs can be considered an idiopathic paroxysmal movement disorder. 2 A recent study in Doberman pinschers characterized IHT as a sudden onset of vertical and/or horizontal rhythmic head movements lasting from a few seconds to several hours.1 However, there remains a lack of data about this condition in other dog breeds. The aim of the current study was to phenotypically characterize IHT in the EB to identify potential risk factors and to compare this breed-specific canine disorder with similar canine and human movement disorders. Materials and MethodsThis study was approved by the Ethics and Welfare Committee of the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, England (approval number URN 201100039H). EB owners and breeders were contacted and invited to complete a detailed questionnaire available online and to provide video recordings of the episodes and pedigree information of their dogs. Some owners were contacted by e-mail or telephone for data verification. This questionnaire was designed by the primary author and a board-certified veterinary neurologist (H.A.V.). Video recordings of the episodes were also requested and analyzed by reviewing the events in slow motion. It was decided that each responder could enter only 1 affected dog. The Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare groups. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Study PopulationTwo hundred thirty-four EB owners participated in the study. Eighty-nine EBs had reported episodes of 191IHT and were considered the affected patient population. This group consisted of 41 male (54%; 95% CI, 44%-64%) and 48 female (46%; 95% CI, 36%-56%) dogs between 5 months and 12 years of age (median, 4 years) and weighing between 12 and 40 kg (median, 26 kg). Forty-one of the 89 dogs (46%; 95% CI, 36%-56%) were neutered, whereas 48 (54%; 95% CI, 44%-64%) were sexually intact animals. The remaining 145 dogs had not demonstrated signs suggestive of IHT at the time of the questionnaire and served as the control group for the affected animal population. This last group consisted of 62 females (43%; 95% CI, 35%-51%) and 83 males (57%; 95% CI, 49%-65%). Eighty-four dogs (58%; 95% CI, 55%-66%) were sexually intact, and 61 (...