BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis, caused by Taenia sp., represents one of the most important parasitic infections of the central nervous system (CNS) globally, with low but increasing numbers of documented cases in both animals and humans in Europe. Taenia sp, has been documented as etiological agent of disease in several domestic and wildlife animals worldwide as well as in humans. However, it has not yet been reported in New World Camelids (NWC). CASE PRESENTATION: A 7-year-old, female alpaca was presented due to progressive neurological signs including ataxia and progressive weakness of the hindlimbs. With the aid of clinical examination and imaging procedures the presence of multifocal lesions in the brain and spinal cord was demonstrated, and Taenia sp. were suggested as causative agent via serology. After a treatment attempt the animal was euthanized and submitted for necropsy due to the deterioration of clinical signs. Macroscopic, histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical postmortem investigations confirmed multifocal mineralisations with surrounding fibrosis, myelin sheath dilation and adjacent astrogliosis and microgliosis. CONCLUSIONS: Neurocysticercosis causes severe, often lethal and diagnostically challenging infections, like in the present case. Therefore, this disease should be included in the list of differential diagnosis in wildlife and domestic animals including alpacas with unspecific neurological signs.

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibodies and the pattern of MRI changes in cats with complex partial seizures with orofacial involvement (CPSOFI), as well as to investigate whether there are factors influencing survival that could be used as prognostic markers in those cats.MethodsCats with CPSOFI were identified retrospectively. The following data were retrieved from the hospital database: signalment, age at first seizure and presentation, the presence of antibodies against VGKC (leucine-rich glioma inactivating factor 1 (LGI1), contactin-associated protein 2 (CASPR2)) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis findings. Brain MRI scans were evaluated for T2 and/or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) hippocampal hyperintensity and hippocampal contrast enhancement by a radiologist. The correlation between being positive for VGKC antibodies and MRI hippocampal hyperintensity was investigated.ResultsSerum antibodies against VGKC were found in 31.4% of cats, with 10/11 positive cats having antibodies against LGI1 and 1/11 against CASPR2. MRI T2/FLAIR hippocampal hyperintensities and T1 contrast enhancement were seen in 57.1% and 27.1% of cats, respectively. There was a weak correlation between those antibodies and MRI changes (phi coefficient 0.12). The following factors did not influence survival on multivariable regression analysis either for all cats together or when the cats that died were evaluated separately: age at first seizure, breed, sex, T2/FLAIR hippocampal hyperintensity, being positive for VGKC antibodies and prednisolone treatment.Conclusions and relevanceThere are no consistent findings on MRI or on testing for VGKC antibodies in all cats with CPSOFI. None of the factors investigated can be used to predict outcomes.

BACKGROUND:A neurological examination is essential for determining the localisation of neurological lesions. However, in avian species, quantitative data regarding the practicability and feasibility of neurological tests are very limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish normative data for the neurological examination of clinically healthy birds of different species.METHODS:Forty-two domestic and feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica), 42 mute swans (Cygnus olor), 12 common buzzards (Buteo buteo), 24 common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and six northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) were examined. All birds underwent a predefined neurological examination. Interobserver variations between three examiners were investigated in 11 pigeons and 11 mute swans.RESULTS:All postural reaction tests, except for the drop and flap reaction in mute swans, provoked a consistent response in pigeons and mute swans, whereas postural reaction tests of the legs in raptors were often not performable. Cranial nerve tests and most of the spinal reflexes revealed variable responses in all birds. The gastrocnemius reflex was not provokable in any bird. Interobserver agreement was almost perfect (Gwet's AC1 coefficient ≥0.81) for 16 of 21 parameters in the examination in pigeons and for 14 of 21 in mute swans.LIMITATIONS:The inclusion of free-ranging birds, which were not used to handling and for which limited information regarding age, history of previous diseases, etc. was available, may have influenced the results.CONCLUSION:The normative neurological examination data provided in this study will help improve clinicians' interpretation of neurological examination results in the respective bird species.

IntroductionClinical reasoning in veterinary medicine is often based on clinicians’ personal experience in combination with information derived from publications describing cohorts of patients. Studies on the use of scientific methods for patient individual decision making are largely lacking. This applies to the prediction of the individual underlying pathology in seizuring dogs as well. The aim of this study was to apply machine learning to the prediction of the risk of structural epilepsy in dogs with seizures.Materials and methodsDogs with a history of seizures were retrospectively as well as prospectively included. Data about clinical history, neurological examination, diagnostic tests performed as well as the final diagnosis were collected. For data analysis, the Bayesian Network and Random Forest algorithms were used. A total of 33 features for Random Forest and 17 for Bayesian Network were available for analysis. The following four feature selection methods were applied to select features for further analysis: Permutation Importance, Forward Selection, Random Selection and Expert Opinion. The two algorithms Bayesian Network and Random Forest were trained to predict structural epilepsy using the selected features.ResultsA total of 328 dogs of 119 different breeds were identified retrospectively between January 2017 and June 2021, of which 33.2% were diagnosed with structural epilepsy. An overall of 89,848 models were trained. The Bayesian Network in combination with the Random feature selection performed best. It was able to predict structural epilepsy with an accuracy of 0.969 (sensitivity: 0.857, specificity: 1.000) among all dogs with seizures using the following features: age at first seizure, cluster seizures, seizure in last 24 h, seizure in last 6 month, and seizure in last year.ConclusionMachine learning algorithms such as Bayesian Networks and Random Forests identify dogs with structural epilepsy with a high sensitivity and specificity. This information could provide some guidance to clinicians and pet owners in their clinical decision-making process.

BackgroundIt is not known how much information clients retrieve from discharge instructions.ObjectiveTo investigate client's understanding of discharge instructions and influencing factors.AnimalsDogs and cats being hospitalized for neurological diseases.MethodsClients were presented questionnaires regarding their pet's disease, diagnostics, treatments, prognosis and discharge instructions at time of discharge and 2 weeks later. The same questions were answered by discharging veterinarians at time of discharge. Clients answered additional questions regarding the subjective feelings during discharge conversation. Data collected included: data describing discharging veterinarian (age, gender, years of clinical experience, specialist status), data describing the client (age, gender, educational status). Raw percentage of agreement (RPA) between answers of clinicians and clients as well as factors potentially influencing the RPA were evaluated.ResultsOf 230 clients being approached 151 (65.7%) and 70 (30.4%) clients responded to the first and second questionnaire, respectively (130 dog and 30 cat owners). The general RPA between clinician's and client's responses over all questions together was 68.9% and 66.8% at the 2 time points. Questions regarding adverse effects of medication (29.0%), residual clinical signs (35.8%), and confinement instructions (36.8%) had the lowest RPAs at the first time point. The age of clients (P = .008) negatively influenced RPAs, with clients older than 50 years having lower RPA.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceClients can only partially reproduce information provided at discharge. Only clients' increasing age influenced recall of information. Instructions deemed to be important should be specifically stressed during discharge.

Abstract Background Early diagnosis of neosporosis in dogs is challenging. Objectives To evaluate the feasibility of a compound multimodal testing approach for diagnosing in dogs neuromuscular and combined forms of neosporosis. Animals A total of 16 dogs diagnosed with solely neuromuscular neosporosis or with a combination of neuromuscular and central nervous system neosporosis. Methods Retrospective review of clinical signs, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome with focus on the diagnostic utility of different tests. Development of a chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH) assay for the identification of Neospora caninum in paraffin‐embedded muscle samples. Results 13/16 dogs had only neuromuscular signs of neosporosis, 3/16 had disease signs with concomitant central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Serology was performed in 15/16, with 10/15 showing titers >1 : 160 at admission. PCR on muscle samples detected N. caninum DNA in 11/16. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) detected N. caninum in 9/16 and ISH in 9/16. Histopathology revealed inflammatory myopathy in 10/16, necrotizing myopathy in 5/16, borderline changes in 1/16 and tachyzoites in 9/16. In 4 cases, N. caninum infection was confirmed with all 5 diagnostic methods, 3 cases with 4, 2 with 3, 6 with 2, and 1 animal with 1. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Diagnosis of N. caninum infection should rely on a multimodal diagnostic approach and negativity of 1 single test should not allow for exclusion. Serology in combination with direct parasite identification via histopathology, DNA via PCR, or both modalities, appears a reliable diagnostic approach.

AbstractBackgroundNonconvulsive seizures (NCS) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) are frequently observed in human patients. Diagnosis of NCS and NCSE only can be achieved by the use of electroencephalography (EEG). Electroencephalographic monitoring is rare in veterinary medicine and consequently there is limited data on frequency of NCS and NCSE.ObjectivesDetermine the prevalence of NCS and NCSE in dogs and cats with a history of cluster seizures.AnimalsTwenty‐six dogs and 12 cats.MethodsRetrospective study. Medical records of dogs and cats with cluster seizures were reviewed. Electroencephalography was performed in order to identify electrographic seizure activity after the apparent cessation of convulsive seizure activity.ResultsNonconvulsive seizures were detected in 9 dogs and 2 cats out of the 38 patients (29%). Nonconvulsive status epilepticus was detected in 4 dogs and 2 cats (16%). Five patients had both NCS and NCSE. A decreased level of consciousness was evident in 6/11 patients with NCS, 3/6 also had NCSE. Mortality rate for patients with NCS (73%) and NCSE (67%) was much higher than that for patients with no seizure activity on EEG (27%).Conclusion and Clinical ImportancePrevalence of NCS and NCSE is high in dogs and cats with a history of cluster seizures. Nonconvulsive seizures and NCSE are difficult to detect clinically and are associated with higher in hospital mortality rates. Results indicate that prompt EEG monitoring should be performed in dogs and cats with cluster seizures.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) represents a heterogenous group of lysosomal storage diseases resulting in progressive neurodegeneration. We investigated two Small Swiss Hound littermates that showed progressive ataxia and loss of cognitive functions and vision starting around the age of 12 months. Both dogs had to be euthanized a few months after the onset of disease owing to the severity of their clinical signs. Pathological investigation of one affected dog revealed cerebral and cerebellar atrophy with cytoplasmic accumulation of autofluorescent material in degenerating neurons. The clinical signs in combination with the characteristic histopathology led to a tentative diagnosis of NCL. In the subsequent genetic investigation, the genome of one affected dog was sequenced. This revealed a duplication of 18 819 bp within the MFSD8 gene. The duplication breakpoints were located in intron 3 and exon 12 of the gene and were predicted to disrupt the reading frame. Both affected dogs carried the duplication in a homozygous state and there was perfect cosegregation of the genotypes with the phenotype in a large pedigree, consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance. MFSD8 loss-of-function variants are a known cause of NCL7 in human patients, dogs and other mammalian species. The existing knowledge on MFSD8 together with the experimental data strongly suggests that the identified intragenic MFSD8 duplication caused the disease in the Small Swiss Hounds. These results allow their diagnosis to be refined to NCL7 and enable genetic testing in the breed to avoid further unintentional carrier × carrier matings.

OPINION article Front. Vet. Sci., 05 October 2023Sec. Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery Volume 10 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1272755

A 9.5-year-old labrador presented with signs of progressive C1-C5 myelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine revealed a broad-based, jagged and partially ill-defined intradural mass lesion at the level of C3-C4 cervical vertebra. Decompressive spinal surgery was performed and the removed mass was sent for histopathological examination that identified an intradural extraosseous osteosarcoma. This very rare canine spinal tumour appears to arise predominantly in the cervical spine and occurs with no predisposing factors. It should be considered as a differential diagnosis for spinal tumours.

Phenobarbital (PB) is one of the most important antiseizure drugs (ASDs) to treat canine idiopathic epilepsy (IE). The effect of PB on the taxonomic changes in gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM) and their functions is less known, which may explain parts of its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, especially its antiseizure effect and drug responsiveness or drug resistance as well as its effect on behavioral comorbidities. Fecal samples of 12 dogs with IE were collected prior to the initiation of PB treatment and 90 days after oral PB treatment. The fecal samples were analyzed using shallow DNA shotgun sequencing, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based dysbiosis index (DI), and quantification of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Behavioral comorbidities were evaluated using standardized online questionnaires, namely, a canine behavioral assessment and research questionnaire (cBARQ), canine cognitive dysfunction rating scale (CCDR), and an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) questionnaire. The results revealed no significant changes in alpha and beta diversity or in the DI, whereas only the abundance of Clostridiales was significantly decreased after PB treatment. Fecal SCFA measurement showed a significant increase in total fecal SCFA concentration and the concentrations of propionate and butyrate, while acetate concentrations revealed an upward trend after 90 days of treatment. In addition, the PB-Responder (PB-R) group had significantly higher butyrate levels compared to the PB-Non-Responder (PB-NR) group. Metagenomics of functional pathway genes demonstrated a significant increase in genes in trehalose biosynthesis, ribosomal synthesis, and gluconeogenesis, but a decrease in V-ATPase-related oxidative phosphorylation. For behavioral assessment, cBARQ analysis showed improvement in stranger-directed fear, non-social fear, and trainability, while there were no differences in ADHD-like behavior and canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) scores after 90 days of PB treatment. While only very minor shifts in bacterial taxonomy were detected, the higher SCFA concentrations after PB treatment could be one of the key differences between PB-R and PB-NR. These results suggest functional changes in GIM in canine IE treatment.

Inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy (IMPN) is one of the causes of sudden onset of neuromuscular signs such as para-/tetraparesis in young cats. Even though most cases have a favorable outcome, persistent deficits, relapses, and progressive courses are occasionally seen. As clinical presentation does not always appear to predict outcome and risk of recurrence, this study was initiated to screen for prognostic biopsy findings in a large cohort of histologically confirmed IMPN cases with clinical follow-up. In total, nerve and muscle specimens of 107 cats with biopsy diagnosis of presumed autoreactive inflammatory polyneuropathy and 22 control cases were reviewed by two blinded raters for a set of 36 histological parameters. To identify patterns and subtypes of IMPN, hierarchical k-means clustering of 33 histologic variables was performed. Then, the impact of histological parameters on IMPN outcome was evaluated via an univariate analysis to identify variables for the final multivariate model. The data on immediate outcome and follow-up were collected from submitting neurologists using a purpose-designed questionnaire. Hierarchical k-means clustering sorted the tissues into 4 main categories: cluster 1 (44/129) represents a purely inflammatory IMPN picture, whereas cluster 2 (47/129) was accompanied by demyelinating features and cluster 3 (16/129) by Wallerian degeneration. Cluster 4 (22/129) reflects normal tissues from non-neuropathic control cats. Returned questionnaires provided detailed information on outcome in 63 animals. They were categorized into recovered and non-recovered. Thereby, fiber-invasive infiltrates by mononuclear cells and mild fiber loss in intramuscular nerve branches correlated with higher probabilities of recovery. Remyelination in semithin sections, on the other hand, is correlated with a less favorable outcome. Animals grouping in cluster 1 had a tendency to a higher probability of recovery compared to other clusters. In conclusion, diagnosis of feline IMPN from nerve and muscle biopsies allowed for the identification of histologic features that were positively or negatively correlated with outcome.

There is a paucity of information on the clinical course and outcome of young cats with polyneuropathy. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical features, diagnostic investigations, and outcome of a large cohort of cats with inflammatory polyneuropathy from several European countries. Seventy cats with inflammatory infiltrates in intramuscular nerves and/or peripheral nerve biopsies were retrospectively included. Information from medical records and follow up were acquired via questionnaires filled by veterinary neurologists who had submitted muscle and nerve biopsies (2011–2019). Median age at onset was 10 months (range: 4–120 months). The most common breed was British short hair (25.7%), followed by Domestic short hair (24.3%), Bengal cat (11.4%), Maine Coon (8.6%) and Persian cat (5.7%), and 14 other breeds. Male cats were predominantly affected (64.3%). Clinical signs were weakness (98.6%) and tetraparesis (75.7%) in association with decreased withdrawal reflexes (83.6%) and, less commonly, cranial nerve signs (17.1%), spinal pain/hyperesthesia (12.9%), and micturition/defecation problems (14.3%). Onset was sudden (30.1%) or insidious (69.1%), and an initial progressive phase was reported in 74.3%. Characteristic findings on electrodiagnostic examination were presence of generalized spontaneous electric muscle activity (89.6%), decreased motor nerve conduction velocity (52.3%), abnormal F-wave studies (72.4%), pattern of temporal dispersion (26.1%) and unremarkable sensory tests. The clinical course was mainly described as remittent (49.2%) or remittent-relapsing (34.9%), while stagnation, progressive course or waxing and waning were less frequently reported. Relapses were common and occurred in 35.7% of the cats' population. An overall favorable outcome was reported in 79.4% of patients. In conclusion, young age at the time of diagnosis and sudden onset of clinical signs were significantly associated with recovery ( p < 0.05). Clinical and electrodiagnostic features and the remittent-relapsing clinical course resembles juvenile chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), as seen in human (children/adolescents), in many aspects.

BACKGROUNDCongenital vertebral body malformations (CVBMs) have retrospectively been investigated in British and American canine populations. This study prospectively evaluates occurrence, localization, type and characteristic of CVBM along the entire vertebral column in a cohort of French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs and Pug dogs from Germany.METHODSProspective clinical and radiological screenings for CVBM were performed in brachycephalic dogs presented for reasons unrelated to neurological problems. Neurological and orthopaedic examinations as well as radiographs in two orthogonal planes of the entire vertebral column including the tail were performed in all dogs. Cobb angle and vertebral step were determined. Associations between CVBM, tail malformation, neurological deficits and occurrence of concurrent orthopaedic diseases were investigated.RESULTSA total of 707 VBMs were identified in the whole vertebral column of 169 of 265 brachycephalic dogs. The most common types of CVBMs were ventral wedge shape (48%), dorsal wedge shape (14%) and shortened vertebral body (14%). A new type of malformation was investigated: dorsal wedge shape vertebrae. There was significant association between severe tail malformations with CVBM. Neurological deficits were significantly associated with ventrolateral wedge shape, dorso lateral hemivertebrae, Cobb angle > 30% and vertebral step ≥1.75 mm. Orthopaedic conditions were not significantly associated with CVBM.CONCLUSIONKyphotic Cobb angle and vertebral step are radiological findings associated with neurological deficits. We propose severe tail malformation as an easy and accurate selection factor for determining breeding dogs.

The reliability of reflex-assessment is currently debatable, with current literature regarding the patellar tendon reflex (PTR) as highly reliable, while the biceps tendon reflex (BTR) is regarded to be of low reliability in the dog. Such statements are, however, based on subjective observations rather than on an empirical study. The goals of this study were three-fold: (1) the quantification of the interobserver agreement (IA) on the evaluation of the canine bicipital (BTR) and patellar tendon (PTR) reflex in healthy dogs, (2) to compare the IA of the BTR and PTR evaluation and (3) the identification of intrinsic (sex, age, fur length, weight) and extrinsic (observer´s expertise, body side) risk factors on the IA of both reflexes. The observers were subdivided into three groups based on their expected level of expertise (neurologists = highest -, practitioners = middle-and veterinary students = lowest level of expertise). For the BTR, 54 thoracic limbs were analyzed and compared to the evaluation of the PTR on 64 pelvic limbs. Each observer had to evaluate the reflex presence (RP) (present or absent) and the reflex activity (RA) using a 5-point ordinal scale. Multiple reliability coefficients were calculated. The influence of the risk factors has been calculated using a mixed regression-model. The Odds Ratio for each factor was presented. The higher the level of expertise the higher was the IA of the BTR. For RP(BTR), IA was highest for neurologists and for RA(BTR) the IA was lowest for students. The level of expertise had a significant impact on the degree of the IA in the evaluation of the bicipital tendon reflex: for the RA(BTR), practitioners had a 3.4-times (p = 0.003) and students a 7.0-times (p < 0.001) higher chance of discordance. In longhaired dogs the chance of disagreement was 2.6-times higher compared to shorthaired dogs in the evaluation of RA(BTR) (p = 0.003). Likewise, the IA of the RP(PTR) was the higher the higher the observers´ expertise was with neurologists having significantly highest values (p < 0.001). The RA(PTR) has been evaluated more consistent by practitioners and students than the RA(BTR). For practitioners this difference was significant (< 0.01). Our data suggests that neurologists assess the bicipital and patellar tendon reflex in dogs most reliably. None of the examined risk factors had a significant impact on the degree of IA in the evaluation of RP(PTR), while students had a 4.4-times higher chance of discordance when evaluating the RA(PTR) compared to the other groups. This effect was significant (p < 0.001). Neurologists can reliably assess the bicipital and patellar tendon reflex in healthy dogs. Observer´s level of expertise and the fur length of the dog affect the degree of IA of RA(BTR). The influence of the observer´s expertise is higher on the evaluation of the BTR than on the PTR.

A 7-year-old German Warmblood gelding was presented 9 months after a respiratory infection, as it showed hanging upper eyelids, a respiratory noise and exercise intolerance. The clinical examination revealed excessive sweating on head and upper neck, ptosis and nostril collapse during exercise on both sides. Clinical pathology including arterial blood gas analysis and differential blood count were within reference limits. Upper airway endoscopy at rest including the guttural poaches and overground endoscopy during lunging exercise were unremarkable. Further diagnostic imaging including CT, MRI or thermography of the head was not performed. Microbiology of a lavage sample of both guttural poaches also yielded no pathological findings. The diagnosis was bilateral Horner's syndrome and a bilateral distal facial nerve paralysis of an unknown pathogenesis. To us, this was most likely the consequence of a former infection or inflammation of the guttural poaches leading to nerval damage of the facial nerve, passing at the lateral wall of the lateral compartment, and the sympathetic ganglion cervicale craniale, which is located dorsocaudal in the medial compartment. Although no curative therapy for Horner's syndrome is available, a therapeutic approach to the bilateral nostril collapse was planned. Several options have been described in the literature including resection of the alar folds and implantation of cartilaginous material from the ear or a metal cage. In this case, surgical therapy included moon shaped skin removal and imbrication of subcutaneous tissue on the dorsal aspect of both nostrils and resection of the alar folds using a Ligasure TM device to decrease the bleeding during alar fold resection. The gelding was treated with an NSAID (flunixin-meglumine 0,5 kg/BW p.o.) post surgery and was discharged from the clinic. Eight months later, an owner interview revealed that the horse was able to perform as a show jumper again, although the clinical signs of Horner's syndrome had not improved.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate and quantify the changes in neurological status in cats after perineal urethrostomy performed in dorsal and ventral recumbency. Methods This was a prospective, randomised study. Twenty male castrated cats with feline lower urinary tract disease presented for perineal urethrostomy were enrolled in this study. Surgery was performed in either dorsal recumbency (group A) or ventral recumbency (group B). Motor response of patellar tendon, gastrocnemius muscle, pelvic limb withdrawal and perineal reflexes, as well as the presence of spinal pain in the lumbosacral region, motor function of the tail and faecal continence, were examined before surgery, and 24 h and 14 days after surgery. Results The animals had a mean weight of 5.07 ± 1.08 kg, with a mean age of 6.12 ± 1.85 years. Weight and age were not significantly different between groups A and B (both P = 0.897). All tested parameters of the neurological examination performed prior to surgery were considered normal in both groups ( P = 1). The comparison between neurological examinations (perineal reflex and spinal pain) before and 24 h after surgery revealed a significantly decreased briskness of the perineal reflex and an increased occurrence of spinal pain 24 h after surgery ( P = 0.043 and P = 0.031, respectively). However, the changes of aforementioned parameters were statistically insignificant ( P = 0.249 and P = 0.141) between groups A and B. The other parameters (patellar tendon, pelvic limb withdrawal and gastrocnemius muscle reflexes, motor function of the tail and faecal continence) were statistically insignificant ( P = 1) before surgery and 24 h after surgery, as well as between groups A and B 24 h after surgery. Results of all tested parameters were statistically insignificant ( P = 1) before surgery and 14 days after surgery, as well as between groups A and B 14 days after surgery. Conclusions and relevance The briskness of the perineal reflex was significantly decreased and the occurrence of spinal pain significantly increased 24 h after surgery. A parallel with a low-grade positioning-dependent nerve injury as described in human medicine may be drawn. However, no positioning method was proven to be superior to the other.

A 10‐year‐old German shepherd dog was presented with peracute onset of non‐ambulatory paraparesis. Clinical signs and neurological examination revealed lack of proprioception and reduced to absent reflexes in both hind limbs, indicating a lesion to spinal cord segments (SCS) L4–S3. In contrast, MRI identified intramedullary signal changes within the SCS T13–L2 and a sharply demarcated zone of signal changes in the adjacent dorsal lumbar musculature on the left side. The findings were consistent with ischaemic myelopathy, most likely due to fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE). The lesion also included large areas of presumably ischaemic myopathy which was confirmed by histopathology of biopsies from adjacent muscles. On re‐examination, three months after presentation, ambulatory paraparesis remained, proprioceptive deficits improved and spinal reflexes were normal. However, the affected left longissimus lumborum muscle had become markedly atrophic. FCE as the most common cause for ischaemic myelopathy obviously may also induce ischaemic paraspinal myopathy.

Key Clinical MessageAortic thromboembolism is a rare and life‐threatening disease in dogs. This report aims to describe the successful surgical treatment by use of a Fogarty Thrombectomy Catheter in an 8‐year‐old patient. The postsurgical intensive care therapy to prevent ischemia‐reperfusion syndrome is specified, despite poor outcome in our case (owner elected euthanasia).