Case report: Neuropathic pain versus undesirable behavior in a Dachshund after hemilaminectomy surgery for an intervertebral disc extrusion

A 5.5 years-old male Dachshund was presented for evaluation because of undesirable behavior including barking, biting, sucking and licking the right-side flank, ventrally and slightly caudally to the level of the surgical incision 7 days after hemilaminectomy for a right-sided L1-2 intervertebral disc extrusion. The dog was being treated with oral gabapentin 10 mg/kg q8h. Repeat clinical examination on three occasions after post-operative discharge did not reveal any signs of hyperesthesia or neurological deficits and the behavior was not observed in the clinic during consultations. During a separate day of hospital admittance with the aim of evaluating for the presence or absence of the behavior, the dog also did not exhibit the behavior. Oral paracetamol 12 mg/kg q8h was added to medical treatment. When the dog was discharged and returned home, the behavior was immediately seen again. When the owners implemented verbal punishment, the behavior immediately ceased. The owner verbally corrected the dogs' behavior for two excitative days. Upon telephone consultation 3 days later, the owner reported that they only had observed three recurrences of the behavior that immediately ceased following verbal correction and did not recur thereafter. Oral analgesic medication was tapered and discontinued. No recurrence of the behavior was noticed during the next 2 months. The authors postulated the dog possibly expressed signs of neuropathic pain in the post-operative period, or that the behavior was of a "compulsive disorder-like" nature as it only occurred when the dog was at home and in the presence of the owner. The eventual outcome and result of verbal corrections implemented by the owner seem to support the latter. In conclusion, compulsive-like undesirable behavior should be considered a differential diagnosis in dogs in the post-operative period of procedures possibly associated with the development or expression of signs of neuropathic pain

Clinical Diagnosis of Rhabdomyolysis without Myoglobinuria or Electromyographic Abnormalities in a Dog

A 2-year-old female neutered Old German Shepherd was presented for acute non-ambulatory tetraparesis. Upon presentation to the emergency department, hematology and biochemical blood tests revealed no abnormalities aside from mildly elevated C-reactive protein levels (22.5 mg/L, reference range 0.0–10.0) and immeasurable creatine kinase (CK) activity. Neurological evaluation the next day revealed ambulatory tetraparesis, general proprioceptive deficits, mild ataxia and dubious diffuse myalgia. Withdrawal reflexes were weak on both thoracic and pelvic limbs. The CK was determined to be significantly elevated at that point (32.856 U/L, ref. range 10.0–200.0). Urinalysis revealed no abnormalities. An electromyographic (EMG) study of thoracic limb, paraspinal and pelvic limb muscles revealed no abnormalities. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the cervicothoracic spinal cord was performed and revealed no abnormalities. A presumptive clinical diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis without myoglobinuria or EMG abnormalities was formed. Muscular biopsies were declined due to the rapid clinical improvement of the dog. A follow-up showed the progressive decline of CK activity to normal values and clinical remission of signs. A diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was concluded based on clinical signs, consistent CK activity elevations and the response to supportive treatment for rhabdomyolysis, despite the absence of myoglobinuria and EMG abnormalities. Rhabdomyolysis should not be excluded based on the lack of EMG abnormalities or myoglobinuria in dogs

Case report: Surgical treatment and long-term successful outcome of a spinal intramedullary vascular malformation in a dog

A 3.5-year-old male intact Staffordshire terrier crossbreed dog was presented with a one-week history of progressive paraparesis with fecal and urinary incontinence. Neurological examination was consistent with a T3-L3 myelopathy. A magnetic resonance imaging study revealed the presence of a well-circumscribed hemorrhagic space-occupying lesion at the level of T12, suspected to be a vascular malformation, such as cavernoma or arteriovenous fistula, primary hematoma or hamartoma; less likely considerations included hemorrhagic inflammation or hemorrhagic primary or secondary neoplasia. A dorsal laminectomy, durotomy, and midline dorsal myelotomy were performed with a surgical microscope, and the vascular lesion was identified and removed. Histological examination of surgical samples yielded fibrin, hemorrhage, hematoidin pigment, and some neural tissue. Although a lining wall was visualized during surgery consistent with a vascular malformation, there was no histological confirmation of such a structure, hampering definitive classification of the lesion. There was no gross or histopathological evidence that would support a diagnosis of a hamartoma or benign neoplasia. The dog was paraplegic with intact nociception the day following surgery. Ambulation was recovered within 2 weeks. Progressive and complete recovery of neurological function was seen over the next 12 weeks. No recurrence of neurological dysfunction was seen over a 12-month follow-up period. Surgical treatment should be considered in dogs with spinal intramedullary vascular lesions which can have a successful long-term outcome

Quality of life in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and their owners with an emphasis on breed: a pilot study

Epilepsy in dogs is a common chronic and serious disorder and may have an impact on the quality of life of the owners as well as the dogs themselves. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the QoL score of dogs suffering from idiopathic epilepsy and their owners and if possible, investigate whether a breed specific difference exists. Owners, either Dutch or Belgium, were asked to participate in a web based SurveyMonkey questionnaire. A total of 402 questionnaires representing 402 dogs with epilepsy were suitable for further analysis. Of the 402 dogs, 253 were males and 149 were females. Ninety-nine different breeds were represented. Fourteen breeds (177 dogs in total) were used to calculate breed specific scores; Australian Shepherd (n = 8), Beagle (n = 7), Belgian Tervuren dog (n = 9), Belgian Groenendaeler dog (n = 8), Border Collie (n = 38), Chihuahua (n = 9), Dachshund (n = 13), Drentsche Patrijshond (a Dutch partridge dog) (n = 14), French Bulldog (n = 12), Golden Retriever (n = 17), Labrador Retriever (n = 18), and Rottweiler (n = 12). For the Border Collie, there was a statistically significant correlation between “epilepsy related death,” the severity of the seizures (p < 0.001) and cluster seizures (p < 0.001). The quality of life of the Border Collie was scored lower compared to all other dogs (p = 0.02). There were three breeds that had a minimal decrease in the overall quality of life score compared to all other dogs: the Chihuahua (p = 0.03), Dachshund (p = 0.001), and Golden retriever (p = 0.01). The score for “caring for my epileptic dog decreases my own QoL” was high for the Border Collie, Boxer, French Bulldog, and Rottweiler, but was only found to be statistically significantly higher in the Border Collie (p = 0.01). Scores for the Golden Retriever (p = 0.04) and Labrador (p = 0.006) were lower. In conclusion, this study reports breed specific quality of life scores of dogs with epilepsy and their owners, and underlines that breed by itself, is also an important factor when managing epilepsy in dogs

Phenotypic characterization of idiopathic epilepsy and epilepsy of unknown cause in Irish Setters

Canine epileptic seizures are common neurological symptom presenting to veterinary practice. Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) with a suspected genetic background has been reported in several dog breeds. Although it has been reported in the Irish Setter (IS), the phenotypic characteristics have not yet been described. The aim of this study was to characterize the phenotype of IE in this breed and to trace its mode of inheritance. Owners of IS were requested to fill in a questionnaire via the Dutch Irish Setter Club concerning the epileptic seizures in their dogs. The data was assessed retrospectively using descriptive statistics. Forty-eight privately owned IS dogs fulfilling tier I criteria for IE according to the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force of both sexes were included in the study. The mean age of seizure onset was 41 months. Five of the dogs included in the study had an onset of seizures >6 years of age. These dogs were classified with epilepsy of unknown cause (EUC). Primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures were the most common type of seizure and were seen in almost all dogs. Cluster seizures were reported in 54% of the studied population. Most owners reported pre- (56%) and post-ictal (97%) signs in their dogs. A pedigree analysis of one subpopulation was performed and traced the lineage of 13 affected IS. A segregation analysis of this population rejected a simple autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. The present study supports the occurrence of IE and EUC in the IS. The results provide clinical insight into epileptic seizures in this breed and may be a starting point for further, including genetic, analysis

Corrigendum: Phenotypic characterization of idiopathic epilepsy and epilepsy of unknown cause in Irish Setters

This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.106609

Quality of life in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and their owners with an emphasis on breed : a pilot study

Epilepsy in dogs is a common chronic and serious disorder and may have an impact on the quality of life of the owners as well as the dogs themselves. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the QoL score of dogs suffering from idiopathic epilepsy and their owners and if possible, investigate whether a breed specific difference exists. Owners, either Dutch or Belgium, were asked to participate in a web based SurveyMonkey questionnaire. A total of 402 questionnaires representing 402 dogs with epilepsy were suitable for further analysis. Of the 402 dogs, 253 were males and 149 were females. Ninety-nine different breeds were represented. Fourteen breeds (177 dogs in total) were used to calculate breed specific scores; Australian Shepherd (n = 8), Beagle (n = 7), Belgian Tervuren dog (n = 9), Belgian Groenendaeler dog (n = 8), Border Collie (n = 38), Chihuahua (n = 9), Dachshund (n = 13), Drentsche Patrijshond (a Dutch partridge dog) (n = 14), French Bulldog (n = 12), Golden Retriever (n = 17), Labrador Retriever (n = 18), and Rottweiler (n = 12). For the Border Collie, there was a statistically significant correlation between "epilepsy related death," the severity of the seizures (p < 0.001) and cluster seizures (p < 0.001). The quality of life of the Border Collie was scored lower compared to all other dogs (p = 0.02). There were three breeds that had a minimal decrease in the overall quality of life score compared to all other dogs: the Chihuahua (p = 0.03), Dachshund (p = 0.001), and Golden retriever (p = 0.01). The score for "caring for my epileptic dog decreases my own QoL" was high for the Border Collie, Boxer, French Bulldog, and Rottweiler, but was only found to be statistically significantly higher in the Border Collie (p = 0.01). Scores for the Golden Retriever (p = 0.04) and Labrador (p = 0.006) were lower. In conclusion, this study reports breed specific quality of life scores of dogs with epilepsy and their owners, and underlines that breed by itself, is also an important factor when managing epilepsy in dogs

Quality of life in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and their owners with an emphasis on breed: a pilot study

Epilepsy in dogs is a common chronic and serious disorder and may have an impact on the quality of life of the owners as well as the dogs themselves. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the QoL score of dogs suffering from idiopathic epilepsy and their owners and if possible, investigate whether a breed specific difference exists. Owners, either Dutch or Belgium, were asked to participate in a web based SurveyMonkey questionnaire. A total of 402 questionnaires representing 402 dogs with epilepsy were suitable for further analysis. Of the 402 dogs, 253 were males and 149 were females. Ninety-nine different breeds were represented. Fourteen breeds (177 dogs in total) were used to calculate breed specific scores; Australian Shepherd (n = 8), Beagle (n = 7), Belgian Tervuren dog (n = 9), Belgian Groenendaeler dog (n = 8), Border Collie (n = 38), Chihuahua (n = 9), Dachshund (n = 13), Drentsche Patrijshond (a Dutch partridge dog) (n = 14), French Bulldog (n = 12), Golden Retriever (n = 17), Labrador Retriever (n = 18), and Rottweiler (n = 12). For the Border Collie, there was a statistically significant correlation between “epilepsy related death,” the severity of the seizures (p < 0.001) and cluster seizures (p < 0.001). The quality of life of the Border Collie was scored lower compared to all other dogs (p = 0.02). There were three breeds that had a minimal decrease in the overall quality of life score compared to all other dogs: the Chihuahua (p = 0.03), Dachshund (p = 0.001), and Golden retriever (p = 0.01). The score for “caring for my epileptic dog decreases my own QoL” was high for the Border Collie, Boxer, French Bulldog, and Rottweiler, but was only found to be statistically significantly higher in the Border Collie (p = 0.01). Scores for the Golden Retriever (p = 0.04) and Labrador (p = 0.006) were lower. In conclusion, this study reports breed specific quality of life scores of dogs with epilepsy and their owners, and underlines that breed by itself, is also an important factor when managing epilepsy in dogs