• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.178-183
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• 2018

The object of this study was to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and neurological signs in canine brain diseases. Brain diseases can cause severe neurological deficits and may be life-threatening. The antemortem diagnosis of the brain diseases is difficult for the clinician, since definitive diagnosis is based upon histopathological confirmation. Brain diseases are often associated with specific clinical signs, signalment, progression, and location. Accurate lesion localization through neurological examination and MRI findings is helpful for developing a differential diagnosis. A retrospective study was performed to compare the neurological examination of dogs with suspected brain disease to the MRI findings. Based on this study, neurological examination is a reliable way to localize most brain lesions. Postural reaction deficits do not provide sufficient information to localize lesions. Additionally, not all brain lesions present clinical signs and inflammatory lesions may cause no detectable abnormalities on MRI. Therefore, in clinical practice, a combination of neurological examination and MRI findings recommended for accurate brain lesion localization.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.113-116
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• 2016

Our retrospective study reports the clinical findings and population characteristics of 81 surgically treated dogs for spinal cord compression. We compared the outcome of dogs with different grades of neurological dysfunction due to spinal cord compression and focused on the long-term outcome of surgical treatment, for which there are only a few recent records. We recorded a 13.6% recurrence, regardless of the degree of dysfunction. However, the degree of dysfunction negatively affected the recovery length.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.273-277
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• 2020

A 12-year-old, female Maltese was referred with uncontrolled hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). Despite well management of HAC through treatment with trilostane and serial monitoring with ACTH stimulation tests for over three years, stiffness of the neck and limbs progressively worsened over time. Neurological test was performed, which showed no abnormalities of cranial nerves. Proprioception was delayed but the cause appeared to be due to stiffness of limb muscles. Muscle tone had increased over time and stiffness had worsened to the extent where it made walking difficult. MRI scans showed no orthopedic or spinal diseases, and pituitary microadenoma was confirmed with pituitary gland measurement of 6 × 6.4 × 4.5 mm (H × W × L). Electromyography presented random discharges with fluctuating amplitude and frequency, which were consistent with myotonic discharges. There were no improvements of myotonic signs despite treatment for HAC with trilostane. Supplementation of L-carnitine and coenzyme Q-10 to mitigate muscle stiffness, following diazepam and methocarbamol to help with muscle rigidity, failed to show any positive effect and the dog died a sudden death, 1,182 days after the initial visit.