Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Shih Tzu puppies with trouble walking due to spinal cysts
By Ness, M G·Published in The Veterinary record·1998·Croft Veterinary Surgeons·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Spinal arachnoid cysts in two shih tzu littermates.
Plain-English summary
Two Shih Tzu littermates were brought in for progressive weakness and coordination problems in their legs. They were diagnosed with spinal arachnoid cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs in the spine. The vets performed surgery to remove the cysts, and one of the puppies recovered completely and is doing well over a year later. Unfortunately, the second puppy did not improve as expected and had to be euthanized due to worsening symptoms.
People also search for: Shih Tzu ataxia treatment · spinal cysts in dogs · puppy weakness and coordination problems
Abstract
Progressive ataxia and quadriparesis in two shih tzu littermates was found to be caused by almost identical, cranial cervical, spinal arachnoid cysts. The cysts were treated surgically by dural marsupialization via a dorsal laminectomy. One pup recovered uneventfully and remains clinically normal more than a year after surgery. The second pup made a slow and incomplete recovery before the signs worsened, necessitating euthanasia. Postmortem examination showed no evidence of the re-formation of the cyst.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9618876/