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Clinical reasoning in canine cervical hyperaesthesia: which presenting features are important?
Nicholas John Grapes1, Rowena Mary Anne Packer2, Steven De Decker2
1Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK ngrapes@rvc.ac.uk.
The Veterinary Record
|September 12, 2020
Summary
Clinical signs can help identify the cause of neck pain in neurologically normal dogs. Features like younger age, fever, and bloodwork changes suggest steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA).
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Canine Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Cervical hyperaesthesia is a common presenting sign in dogs.
- Identifying the underlying cause is crucial for effective treatment.
- Clinical features may help predict specific diagnoses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if clinical findings predict the diagnosis in dogs with cervical hyperaesthesia.
- To assess the diagnostic value of history, physical, and neurological examinations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 298 dogs with cervical hyperaesthesia (Jan 2010-Oct 2018).
- Included neurologically normal dogs; excluded those with deficits.
- Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- Eight conditions accounted for 95% of cases: SRMA, intervertebral disc extrusion/protrusion, syringomyelia, neoplasia, etc.
- Steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA) was associated with younger age, pyrexia, and specific hematology abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- Recognizable clinical features can aid in diagnosing neurologically normal dogs with cervical hyperaesthesia.
- These findings can assist veterinarians in differential diagnosis and treatment decisions.
