Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Owner-reported scratching and pain in Cavalier King Charles spaniels
By Sparks, C 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: Questionnaire-based Analysis of Owner-reported Scratching and Pain Signs in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Screened for Chiari-like Malformation and Syringomyelia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels was evaluated for signs of pain and scratching related to Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM). Owners reported symptoms through questionnaires, noting that the most common sign of pain was the dog crying out when picked up. While many dogs showed symptoms, the owner-reported signs did not consistently match the findings from neurologic exams or MRI results. This suggests that while owners can provide valuable insights into their pets' pain, more research is needed to fully understand the connection between these symptoms and the underlying conditions.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel pain signs · Chiari-like malformation symptoms in dogs · syringomyelia treatment for dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM) cause a pain syndrome in Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS). Clinical signs are not consistently apparent on neurologic examination, and owner reporting of signs provides vital clinical history. However, owner questionnaires for this disease are not well developed. OBJECTIVES: To develop a tool to capture owner-reported clinical signs for use in clinical trials and to compare owner-reported signs with the presence of pain on neurologic examination and SM on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ANIMALS: Fifty client-owned CKCS. METHODS: Owners completed a questionnaire and pain/scratch map. Each dog underwent a neurologic examination and craniocervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Questionnaire responses were developed into scores, area of shading for pain/scratch maps was measured, and consistency of responses between these tools was assessed. Owner-reported findings were compared with neurologic examination findings and presence and severity of SM on MRI. RESULTS: Thirty-three dogs were symptomatic and 17 asymptomatic; 30 had SM. The most common sign of pain was crying out when lifted (n = 11). Extent of shaded areas on maps positively correlated with questionnaire scores for pain (r = 0.213, P = 0.006) and scratch (r = 0.104, P = 0.089). Owner-reported findings were not significantly associated with presence or severity of SM or neurologic examination findings. Owner-reported lateralization of signs was significantly associated with SM lateralization (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire and maps may be useful for clinical trials. Lack of association of owner-reported signs with SM highlights our lack of understanding of the pathophysiology of pain in this disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29105875/