Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pain and sensation testing in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
By Sparks, Courtney R et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2018·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Investigation of sensory thresholds in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with and without Chiari-like malformations and syringomyelia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 44 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were tested for pain sensitivity to understand how Chiari-like malformations and syringomyelia (CMSM) affect them. The dogs underwent neurological exams and MRI scans, and their responses to temperature and pressure were measured. It was found that dogs showing signs of pain had lower sensitivity thresholds in their paws and necks compared to those without pain, indicating that pain levels might be more important than the presence of syringomyelia itself. This information could help veterinarians assess pain in these dogs more effectively.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel pain symptoms · Chiari-like malformation treatment · syringomyelia in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) suffer pain associated with Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia (CMSM). People suffer from a similar condition and describe numerous sensory abnormalities. Sensory changes have not been quantified in affected CKCS. OBJECTIVES: To use quantitative sensory testing (QST) to quantify thermal and mechanical thresholds in CKCS and to compare QST in dogs with and without syringomyelia (SM). ANIMALS: Forty-four CKCS. METHODS: Prospective study. Dogs underwent neurological examinations and craniocervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thermal testing was performed over the humerus and thorax (n = 32); mechanical testing was performed on the paw and neck (n = 44). Latencies, thresholds, and response rates were compared with presence and severity of SM on MRI, presence of pain reported by the owner and pain identified on examination. RESULTS: Thirty dogs had SM, 30 were painful on examination, 29 were owner-reported symptomatic. Thermal and mechanical variables were not significantly different based on presence or severity of SM. Dogs with pain on examination had decreased mechanical thresholds on the paw (0.38 kg, SD = 0.18) and neck (2.05 kg, SD = 0.74) compared to thresholds of dogs without pain on examination on the paw (0.60 kg, SD = 0.30) and neck (2.72 kg, SD = 0.57; P = .021). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Mechanical and thermal sensitivity does not appear to be related to the presence of SM, but mechanical sensitivity appears to be related to the presence of pain and clinical signs. Mechanical testing may be useful for assessing sensory abnormalities during clinical trials.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30307645/