Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characterization of cervical spondylomyelopathy in juvenile dogs.

BACKGROUND: Cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM) occurs because of compression of the cervical spinal cord, nerve roots, or both, usually affecting young adult to older large and giant breed dogs. Juvenile dogs are affected infrequently. OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in juvenile dogs (≤ 12 months) with cervical spondylomyelopathy. ANIMALS: Twenty CSM-affected juvenile dogs. METHODS: Medical and imaging records for juvenile dogs with CSM were reviewed. History and neurologic examination findings were obtained, including follow-up data. The MRI studies were reviewed for cause and site of spinal cord compression, intervertebral disk protrusion or degeneration, articular process degenerative changes, intervertebral foraminal stenosis, and spinal cord signal changes. RESULTS: Mean (median) age at the time of diagnosis was 9.4 (10) months. There were 16 giant breed dogs. Eighteen dogs had a chronic presentation, 18/20 had proprioceptive ataxia, and 9/20 had cervical pain. On MRI, the principal spinal cord compression occurred at C5-C6, C6-C7, or both in most dogs; 12/20 dogs had ≥2 sites of spinal cord compression. The cause of compression was articular process proliferation in 8/20 dogs and disk protrusion in 2/20 dogs. Intervertebral disk degeneration was seen in 9/20 dogs. Follow-up was obtained for 12/20 dogs: 10/12 were managed medically and 2/12 surgically. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Cervical spondylomyelopathy in juvenile dogs was characterized mostly by osseous-associated spinal cord compression and multiple compressive sites. Almost half of the dogs had intervertebral disk degeneration. Intervertebral disk protrusion was seen in both giant and large breed dogs.

QUANTITATIVE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY OF HEALTHY ADULT BOAS ( BOA CONSTRICTOR).

The evaluation of radiodensity using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) has several indications in animals. It allows for standardization of reference values for bone densitometry and helps in the clinical diagnosis of diseases. Currently, there is a lack of such data in the literature for Boa constrictor constrictor. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate reference values for bone density in boas ( Boa constrictor constrictor). Computed tomography scans were performed on 10 adult, healthy, free-ranging boas. Results showed mean values of vertebral trabecular bone for free-ranging boas were 1,237.91 ± 54.61 mg/cm3. Because of the difficulty in obtaining clinical and radiographic diagnoses of metabolic bone diseases, especially in a timely manner, densitometry may become a helpful tool in preventive veterinary medicine.

USE OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR INVESTIGATION OF HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS IN CAPTIVE CHELONOIDIS CARBONARIA (SPIX, 1824).

Computed tomography is a sensitive and highly applicable technique for determining the degree of radiographic attenuation of the hepatic parenchyma. Radiodensity measurements of the liver can help in the diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis in humans and animals. The objective was to investigate the presence of hepatic lipidosis in captive red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonaria) using computed tomography. Computed tomography was performed in 10 male red-footed tortoises. Mean radiographic attenuation values for the hepatic parenchyma were 11.2±3.0 Hounsfield units (HU). Seven red-footed tortoises had values lower than 20 HU, which is compatible with C. carbonaria hepatic lipidosis. These results allowed an early diagnosis of the hepatic changes and suggested corrective measures regarding feeding and management protocols.