Small Animal Spinal Cord Disease

Lahunta, Alexander de; Glass, Eric N.; Kent, Marc

doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-69611-1.00010-4

Cited by 10 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 103 publications

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chronic, progressive thoracolumbar (TL) myelopathies are common neurological problems in pug dogs, and multiple abnormalities have been described affecting the TL spinal cord and vertebral column in this breed. 1 Constrictive myelopathy (CM) was first described in pug dogs in 2013 2 and in a 2014 report, pug dogs were cited as the most commonly affected breed with spinal arachnoid diverticulum (SAD) in a study of 122 dogs. 3 Both conditions have been associated with spinal cord compression and meningeal (arachnoid, dural, or both) fibrosis, 4,5 with a constrictive, circumferential band of connective tissue forming in CM and a cerebrospinal fluid-filled, subarachnoid cavity forming in SAD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Thoracolumbar myelopathies in pug dogs

Wachowiak

Patterson

Winger

et al. 2023

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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Background Constrictive myelopathy (CM) involving a fibrous band around the spinal cord is a newly recognized disease in pug dogs. Objectives To identify the frequency of CM based on diagnostic imaging supplemented with necropsy; to determine whether a relationship exists between the sites of CM and other described T3‐L3 myelopathies; and to determine the frequency of caudal articular process dysplasia (CAPD). Animals Thirty‐two client‐owned pug dogs diagnosed with a chronic, progressive T3‐L3 myelopathy based on neurological examination performed by a board‐certified neurologist. Methods This is a prospective study. All dogs underwent computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reviewed by a board‐certified radiologist. Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities were categorized into diseases; CM only, CM plus other non‐CM condition(s), or non‐CM condition. Sites of CAPD were reported on CT. Nineteen dogs underwent necropsy. Results Magnetic resonance imaging revealed 3 dogs with CM only, 17 with CM plus at least 1 other myelopathy, 11 dogs with non‐CM myelopathies only, and 1 with no MRI abnormalities. Nineteen of 32 dogs had >1 myelopathy diagnosis on MRI whereas 15/32 had >1 site of spinal cord compression. All dogs had CAPD at >1 site in the T3‐L3 vertebral column on CT. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Constrictive myelopathy affected more than half of pug dogs presenting with chronic thoracolumbar myelopathies. Most had multilevel disease, concurrent myelopathies, or both. There was no apparent relationship between anatomic locations of CAPD and most severe myelopathy or myelopathy type.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thoracolumbar myelopathies in pug dogs

Wachowiak

Patterson

Winger

et al. 2023

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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“…Although not specifically referring to rabbits, similar comments regarding variable postural reaction performance can be found in other small-animal neurology literature. de Lahunta et al stated that the hopping reaction is the most reliable postural reaction test [ 14 ]. Regarding proprioceptive positioning (the paw placement test), most small animals immediately return the paw to its normal position.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding proprioceptive positioning (the paw placement test), most small animals immediately return the paw to its normal position. However, some neurologically healthy dogs may respond slowly or even fail to replace the paw if they do not bear weight on that limb [ 14 ]. Moreover, according to other authors, proprioceptive positioning is challenging in cats because they dislike having their feet manipulated during examination [ 12 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility and Validity of Postural Reaction Tests in the Neurological Examination in Healthy Rabbits

Tsai

Huang

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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Neurological examination remains a fundamental step in the care of patients with neurological disorders. However, studies evaluating the feasibility and validity of neurological examination in rabbits are limited. In this study, postural reaction tests or methods commonly performed in dogs and cats were evaluated in clinically healthy rabbits, and we aimed to postulate a simplified examination list according to the results. The feasibility and validity of each test were determined and screened using a cut-off value of 90%. For the remaining tests/methods, the response rates of tests with similar neuroanatomical pathways were compared. Among the 34 healthy rabbits tested, one method of the hopping reaction (holding then lowering the rabbit quickly towards the floor with only the tested limb touching the ground), the hemi-walking test, the wheelbarrowing test, and the righting response yielded a feasibility and validity of over 90%. When comparing tests/methods with similar neuroanatomical pathways, the normal response rate of the hopping reaction was comparable to that of the hemi-walking test. We conclude that in healthy rabbits, hopping reaction tests using the method mentioned above, hemi-walking, wheelbarrowing, and righting responses are likely to be feasible postural reaction tests that yield consistent and normal responses.

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“…A EDIV causa classicamente compressão extradural da medula espinhal [5]. Não é usual o material extrudido do disco intervertebral penetrar a dura-máter e a medula espinhal [7].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Intradural Disc Extrusion in a Dog

Ripplinger

Aiello

Wrzesinski

et al. 2020

Acta Scientiae. Vet.

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Background: Intervertebral disc extrusion is an important cause of spinal cord dysfunction in dogs. Intradural localization of the extruded disc material is rare, and is generally associated with a traumatic event or with recurrence of disc extrusion at a previously affected site. We report the clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and treatment of a dog with intradural intervertebral disc extrusion not preceded by a traumatic event.Case: A 6-year-old male Dachshund was referred for neurological evaluation due to acute onset of hind-end paralysis preceded by claudication of the left hindlimb. The patient had been receiving conservative treatment to no effect. Neurological examination revealed asymmetric non-ambulatory paraparesis, absence of postural reactions and decreased muscle tone in both hindlimbs, a bilaterally diminished patellar reflex, and a hindlimb withdrawal reflex which was normal on the right and greatly diminished to absent on the left. The lower back was tender to epaxial palpation. Plain radiographs of the lumbar spine in the lateral projection showed calcified material within the spinal canal between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae. Myelography was suggestively abnormal at the same level, with epidural leakage of contrast at L3-L4. Considering the clinical history, breed, age, neurological signs, and radiographic findings, intervertebral disc disease was suspected despite the inconclusive myelography findings. A dorsolateral lumbar hemilaminectomy was performed. Intraoperatively, the diagnosis was confirmed by visualization of a discolored spinal cord and absence of extradural material. The intradural space was accessed via durotomy. A firm, straw-yellow material was seen compressing the spinal cord and removed. Subsequent histopathological examination confirmed that this material consisted of extruded intervertebral disc contents. Postoperatively, the patient underwent physiotherapy and achieved a satisfactory recovery.Discussion: The most common cause of paraparesis in chondrodystrophic dog breeds is intervertebral disc extrusion. Intradural extrusion of the intervertebral disc is a rare phenomenon, often associated with vigorous exercise that causes laceration of the dura mater, allowing penetration of disc material into the intradural space. Although there were no classic signs of intervertebral disc disease on plain radiography, radiopaque material was visible within the spinal canal, which can occur in cases of calcified intervertebral disc extrusion. Myelography was inconclusive, but the decision was made to operate nevertheless, considering that the patient had not responded to conservative treatment and that surgicaltreatment is the most suitable approach for dogs with non-ambulatory paraparesis or paraplegia secondary to intervertebral disc extrusion. The surgical technique consisted of a hemilaminectomy and durotomy. Our diagnostic suspicion was confirmed intraoperatively, as in most cases of intradural disc extrusion in humans. Intradural disc extrusion is anuncommon phenomenon in dogs, and the diagnosis is usually only established intraoperatively. This unusual variant of intravertebral disc disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord dysfunction in chondrodystrophic breeds, even in the absence of a history of trauma or preexisting intervertebral disc disease. Clinical treatment appears ineffective in these cases. Conversely, surgical treatment can yield good outcomes, and even functional recovery.

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Small Animal Spinal Cord Disease

Cited by 10 publications

References 103 publications

Thoracolumbar myelopathies in pug dogs

Thoracolumbar myelopathies in pug dogs

Feasibility and Validity of Postural Reaction Tests in the Neurological Examination in Healthy Rabbits

Intradural Disc Extrusion in a Dog

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