A 4.5‐year‐old neutered female domestic shorthair cat was presented with an acute onset of neurological signs suggestive of multifocal or diffuse intracranial lesions. MRI of the head revealed bilaterally symmetrical T2‐weighted hyperintensities in the pons and thalamus, suggestive of a metabolic or toxic aetiology. The pontine lesion on MRI resembled what in humans is known as the ‘trident sign’ reported in cases of pontine myelinolysis. Ancillary cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed albuminocytologic dissociation and suspected myelin debris. No specific cause was identified, but the cat recovered over the next few weeks with only supportive therapy.

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is the noninvasive spinal cord vascular imaging modality of choice in human medicine. The aim of this exploratory, prospective, descriptive study was to assess the feasibility of fast three‐dimensional (3D) contrast‐enhanced (CE) MRA for visualization of spinal vascular structures in the canine lumbar region. Fourteen canine patients weighing > 5 kg were included. The lumbar arteries were consistently visualized (14/14;100%). Spinal arteries, radicular branches, great radicular artery (of Adamkiewicz), ventral spinal artery, and dorsal spinal arteries were not visualized (0/14;0%). The internal vertebral venous plexus was visualized in 11 of 14 (79%) dogs. Overall, the results of this study show that fast 3D CE‐MRA of the lumbar region in dogs is feasible. However, the smaller arteries responsible for the spinal cord vascular supply were not visualized in this study.

A 6‐year‐old castrated male Dachshund‐cross was presented with signs compatible with a thoracolumbar myelopathy. MRI findings were considered most consistent with neoplasia as a large, oval‐shaped, well‐defined extradural mass with atypical intensity presentation was found in the spinal canal with extension into the intervertebral foramen. Owners elected euthanasia and post‐mortem histopathological examination resulted in a final diagnosis of compressive myelopathy due to extrusion of degenerated nucleus pulposus with haemorrhage and secondary encapsulation of the compressive material by fibroblasts. This case illustrates the variable appearance of intervertebral disc extrusion on MRI.