Although it has long been stated that the level of spinal cord termination varies depending on the size of the dog, the evidence for this remains limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the position of the conus medullaris (CM) and dural sac (DS) in a population of dogs of varying size. MRIs of the thoracolumbosacral spine of 101 dogs were included. The location of CM and DS was determined on sagittal T2-weighted images and T1-weighted images, respectively, by three independent observers. The bodyweight and the back length were used as markers of size. Regression analysis showed that the termination point of the CM had a statistically significant relationship with bodyweight (R2=0.23, P<0.05). Although not statistically significant (P=0.058), a similar relationship was found between CM and back length (R2=0.21). No statistically significant relationship was found between the termination point of the DS and bodyweight (P=0.24) or back length (P=0.19). The study confirms the terminal position of the CM is dependent on size, with a more cranial position with increasing size; however, the termination point of DS remains constant irrespective of dog size.

A seven-month-old male entire Bulldog presented for a three-week history of progressive lethargy, exercise intolerance, hindlimb paresis, muscle atrophy and hyperaesthesia. The dog had initially been raised on the bitch’s milk before maternal illness resulted in him transitioning onto milk replacer. He was weaned onto commercial puppy food until four months of age before being transitioned onto a homecooked diet. This diet comprised of raw meat, collected weekly from a local abattoir, homecooked cereals and vegetables. The patient was oxygen-dependent on presentation, requiring 40 per cent inspired oxygen concentration to maintain normoxaemia. Investigations revealed marked osteopenia with concurrent severe hypovitaminosis D, hypocalcaemia and hyperparathyroidism; hypovitaminosis A; hypothyroidism and concurrent severe pneumonia. Despite intensive medical care, nutritional interventions and escalating oxygen therapy, the dog was euthanased due to a deterioration in respiratory function. This case report highlights the severe clinical complications associated with the consumption of a nutritionally incomplete diet.

BackgroundCytosine arabinoside (CA) and prednisolone are drugs commonly used together in the management of canine non-infectious meningoencephalitis (NIME). The aim of this study was to report the haematological findings before and after CA and prednisolone treatment and identify any adverse haematological events in this clinical setting, following the veterinary cooperative oncology group established common terminology criteria for recording adverse events following administration of chemotherapy or biological antineoplastic therapy.ResultsWhile 48 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of NIME had pretreatment haematology results, only 12 patients met the inclusion criteria of also having post-treatment haematology results available for review after being treated with prednisolone and CA at a standard dose (200 mg/m2) in a single referral hospital in the UK. Forty-nine post-treatment haematology results were available for these 12 patients.ConclusionsFour adverse haematological events were identified in four patients. None of these events were convincingly attributable to CA administration.

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A 9‐year‐8‐month‐old, male, neutered labrador crossbreed dog was presented for evaluation of a chronic, progressive pelvic limb ataxia and thoracolumbar hyperaesthesia. The patient was diagnosed with a T12–T13 intervertebral disc protrusion and treated surgically with a lateral corpectomy procedure. After an initial post‐operative improvement, the dog acutely deteriorated to the point of severe non‐ambulatory paraparesis, with recurrence of thoracolumbar hyperaesthesia. A computed tomography scan revealed the presence of epidural gas accumulation and haematoma at the corpectomy site, causing moderate spinal cord compression. The patient was treated conservatively with strict rest and analgesia with subsequent neurological improvement. At the recheck appointment 6 weeks after surgery, the dog had demonstrated improvement from its pre‐surgical neurological status.