Results of this observational study suggest that surgical cytoreduction and radiotherapy are effective at improving survival in dogs with CSN, and that ID-EM tumors may be associated with a more favorable prognosis than IM neoplasms.

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ObjectivesTo compare the proportions of dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusion that lose pelvic limb pain perception if surgery is performed on the day of admission or delayed overnight. To describe the outcome of those dogs that deteriorate to lose pain perception.Materials and MethodsRetrospective, single centre study on 273 client‐owned dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusion and intact pain perception, but inability to walk unaided on their pelvic limbs. Dogs were subdivided into two groups: early surgery (spinal decompression between their examination at day of admission and the following morning), and delayed surgery (did not undergo surgery between admission and the following morning). The proportion of dogs that lost pelvic limb pain perception overnight was compared between the early and delayed surgery groups.ResultsSeven of 151 dogs in the early surgery group lost pain perception overnight compared to 15 of 122 in the delayed surgery group (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.025). Number‐needed‐to‐treat analysis suggested that 14 dogs (95% confidence interval: 7–106 dogs) need early surgery to prevent one losing pain perception overnight. Five of the seven dogs that lost pain perception in the early surgery group recovered pain perception by 3 weeks post‐operatively, compared to eight of 14 in the delayed group.Clinical SignificanceThis study suggests that an overnight delay before spinal decompression increases the risk of clinically meaningful deterioration in dogs unable to walk following thoracolumbar disc extrusion.

The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of a cerebral hemangioblastoma in a 9-year-old dog are described. Imaging revealed a well-defined contrast-enhancing lesion of the rostral forebrain that appeared extraparenchymal. Histopathology of the excised mass showed clusters of small blood vessels interspersed with interstitial cells staining positive for neuronal specific enolase, features consistent with a cerebral hemangioblastoma; the mass also appeared intraparenchymal after further immunohistochemistry study. This neoplasm should be considered a rare differential diagnosis for intracranial masses in dogs.

Two Patterdale terrier siblings presented with a progressive history of a spinocerebellar ataxia present from 15 weeks of age. Both dogs had daily episodes of myokymia affecting all four limbs. The female dog had a history of three neuromyotonic attacks and was euthanased due to extreme hyperthermia during one attack. Both were homozygous for the genetic mutation of the KCNJ10 gene, which was previously reported in the Jack Russell terrier. This case highlights the clinical reasoning of abnormal gaits and abnormal episodes. This is the first report of this mutation in the Patterdale terrier.