Prevalence, clinical presentation, and etiology of myelopathies in 224 juvenile dogs.

Pilkington, Ed J ORCID: 0000-0002-6296-0256, De Decker, Steven ORCID: 0000-0002-2505-2152, Skovola, Eleftheria, Cloquell Miro, Ana, Gutierrez Quintana, Rodrigo ORCID: 0000-0002-3570-2542, Faller, Kiterie ME ORCID: 0000-0002-4525-7059, Aguilera Padros, Albert and Goncalves, Rita ORCID: 0000-0001-5420-9801 (2024) Prevalence, clinical presentation, and etiology of myelopathies in 224 juvenile dogs. Journal of veterinary internal medicine.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17045

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Intervertebral disc herniation is widely recognized as the most common cause of myelopathy in dogs older than 2 years; however, the prevalence of various causes of myelopathy in younger dogs has not been reported.<h4>Hypothesis/objectives</h4>To describe the prevalence, clinical presentation, and etiology of myelopathy in dogs aged 18 months or less. Secondarily, to investigate which clinical features were associated with each of the most common etiologies.<h4>Animals</h4>Two hundred twenty-four dogs aged 18 months or less with myelopathy were included in the study.<h4>Methods</h4>Retrospective review of clinical records from 4 referral institutions. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed which clinical features were associated with each diagnosis.<h4>Results</h4>French bulldogs (n = 51, 22.8%), pugs (n = 18, 8.0%), crossbreeds (n = 12, 5.4%), and English bulldogs (n = 11, 4.9%) were the most frequently affected breeds. Overall, 31 diagnoses were reached. The 5 most frequent diagnoses were vertebral malformation (VM; n = 42, 18.8%), spinal arachnoid diverticulum (SAD; n = 28, 12.5%), traumatic fracture of the vertebral column (n = 22, 9.8%), atlantoaxial instability (n = 18, 8.0%), and osseous-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (n = 17, 7.6%). Intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) accounted for 4.5% of cases (n = 10). A final diagnosis of VM was associated with younger, screw-tailed, and pug breeds with chronic signs of T3-L3 myelopathy. SAD was associated with screw-tailed and pug breeds with nonpainful clinical signs. Intervertebral disc extrusion was associated with older, screw-tailed, and pug breeds with shorter duration of clinical signs.<h4>Conclusions and clinical importance</h4>Prioritization of differential diagnoses for dogs presenting with signs of myelopathy when aged 18 months or less should differ to those for older dogs, with IVDE not the most common cause in the former.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	diverticulum, malformation, screw-tail, spinal
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	18 Mar 2024 14:21
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2024 14:21
DOI:	10.1111/jvim.17045
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17045
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3179575