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ABSTRACT: The clinical and clinicopathological characteristics, treatment and outcome of vermicular muscle contractions (myokymia) and generalized muscle stiffness (neuromyotonia) in 37 Jack Russell terriers were evaluated retrospectively. Thirty dogs were affected by both disorders, whereas seven were presented with myokymia and never developed neuromyotonia. Clinical signs started at the mean age of 8 months. Except for signs of myokymia and neuromyotonia, clinical and neurological examination was normal in all dogs. Thirty dogs demonstrated typical signs of hereditary ataxia. Changes in serum chemistry included increased creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations. Electromyographic abnormalities, especially in muscles showing macroscopically visible myokymia, consisted of semirhythmic bursts of doublet, triplet, or multiplet discharges of a single motor unit. The amplitudes varied between 80 μV and 1 mV and occurred with an interburst frequency between 10 and 40 Hz and an intraburst frequency between 150 and 280 Hz. Most dogs were treated with a sodium channel blocker with variable results. Seven dogs died (most likely because of hyperthermia) or were euthanased during a neuromyotonic attack; 15 dogs were euthanased due to worsening of clinical signs, or lack of or no long-lasting effect of medication, and three were euthanased for unknown or unrelated reasons. Nine dogs were lost to follow-up and three were still alive 5-10.5 years after the start of clinical signs. In conclusion, young Jack Russell terriers with myokymia and neuromyotonia should undergo a complete blood and electrophysiological examination. Long-term prognosis is not favourable.
The Veterinary Journal 09/2011; 189(3):284-8. · 2.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive and painless technique for studying the motor pathways in medical neurology. A time-varying magnetic field induces an electrical field in conducting objects, such as nervous tissue. The technique can be applied to nerve roots and peripheral nerves or to the motor cortex of the brain in human and veterinary medicine. In this review, the basic principles, applications and risk factors of peripheral nerve and motor cortex stimulation in human and veterinary medicine are discussed.
The Veterinary Journal 02/2011; 187(2):174-81. · 2.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To determine murmur prevalence by auscultation of 105 apparently healthy Whippets without signs of cardiac disease, to determine the origin of these murmurs, and to evaluate the influence of sex, type of pedigree (ie, bred for showing or racing), and training on these murmurs.
Cross-sectional study.
105 client-owned Whippets.
All dogs were auscultated by the first author and underwent a complete physical and cardiological examination, together with a hematologic assessment. Several RBC variables and echocardiographic variables were compared between dogs with or without a murmur at the level of the aortic valve.
44 of 105 (41.9%) dogs had no murmur. A soft systolic murmur was present with point of maximal intensity at the level of the aortic valve in 50 (47.6%) dogs, at the level of the pulmonic valve in 8 (7.6%) dogs, and at the level of the mitral valve in 3 (2.9%) dogs. No significant differences were found in heart rate, rhythm, murmur presence, point of maximal intensity, and murmur grade between males and females, between dogs with race- and show-type pedigrees, or between dogs in training and not in training. Dogs with a murmur at the level of the aortic valve had a significantly higher aortic and pulmonic blood flow velocity and cardiac output, compared with dogs without a murmur.
Whippets have a high prevalence of soft systolic murmurs in the absence of any structural abnormalities, which fit the description of innocent murmurs. No influence of sex, pedigree type, or training was found on the occurrence of these murmurs in Whippets.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 02/2011; 238(4):468-71. · 1.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To report the clinical signs, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of an intranasal meningoencephalocele in a dog.
Case report.
Female Border collie, 5 months old.
A right intranasal meningoencephalocele was identified by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
The lesion was approached by a modified transfrontal craniotomy. Surgical closure of the defect at the level of the cribriform plate and removal of extruded brain tissue resulted in regression of lacrimation and coincided with absence of seizuring. Treatment with phenobarbital was gradually reduced and stopped at 7 months after surgery. At 28 months the dog remained free of seizures.
Meningoencephalocele, although rare, can cause seizures in dogs and can be treated surgically.
A transfrontal craniotomy with excision of the meningoencephalocele and closure of the defect can be an effective treatment for an intranasal meningoencephalocele in dogs.
Veterinary Surgery 07/2009; 38(4):515-9. · 1.26 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Relationships between onset latency and peak-to-peak amplitude of magnetic motor evoked potentials (MMEP) after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), together with the electroencephalographic parameters bispectral analysis index (BIS) and the autoregressive model with exogenous input (ARX)-derived auditory evoked potential index (AAI) were explored during different sedative and hypnotic drug combinations in six dogs. TMS was performed under sedation with acepromazine/methadone or medetomidine and after a single bolus injection of propofol or etomidate. Data for BIS and AAI were continuously collected during the periods of treatment with the hypnotic drugs. Changes in BIS and AAI during both periods were not statistically correlated with changes in onset latencies and peak-to-peak amplitudes of MMEP after TMS. Therefore, both electroencephalographic techniques are of limited use in titrating sedation and anaesthesia during TMS in the dog.
The Veterinary Journal 09/2008; 181(2):163-70. · 2.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Brachial plexus trauma is a common clinical entity in small animal practice and prognostic indicators are essential early in the course of the disease. Magnetic stimulation of the radial nerve and consequent recording of the magnetic motor evoked potential (MMEP) was examined in 36 dogs and 17 cats with unilateral brachial plexus trauma. Absence of deep pain perception (DPP), ipsilateral loss of panniculus reflex, partial Horner's syndrome and a poor response to MMEP were related to the clinical outcome in 29 of the dogs and 13 of the cats. For all animals, a significant difference was found in MMEP between the normal and the affected limb. Absence of DPP and unilateral loss of the panniculus reflex were indicative of an unsuccessful outcome in dogs. Additionally, the inability to evoke a MMEP was associated with an unsuccessful outcome in all animals. It was concluded that magnetic stimulation of the radial nerve in dogs and cats with brachial plexus trauma may provide an additional diagnostic and prognostic tool.
The Veterinary Journal 08/2008; 182(1):108-13. · 2.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A model for magnetic stimulation of the radial and sciatic nerves in dogs was evaluated. Onset-latencies and peak-to-peak amplitudes of magnetic and electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve were compared, and the effect of the direction of the current in the magnetic coil on onset-latencies and peak-to-peak amplitude of the magnetic motor evoked potential was studied in both nerves. The results demonstrate that magnetic stimulation is a feasible method for stimulating the radial and sciatic nerves in dogs. No significant differences were observed in onset-latencies and peak-to-peak amplitudes during magnetic and electrical stimulation, indicating conformity between the techniques. Orthodromic or antidromic magnetic nerve stimulation resulted in no significant differences. This pilot study demonstrates the potential of magnetic stimulation of nerves in dogs.
The Veterinary Journal 10/2007; 178(2):288-90. · 2.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the physiologic endocrine effects of food intake and food withholding via measurement of the circulating concentrations of acylated ghrelin, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), glucose, and insulin when food was administered at the usual time, after 1 day's withholding, after 3 days' withholding and after refeeding the next day in healthy Beagles.
9 healthy Beagles.
Blood samples were collected from 8:30 AM to 5 PM from Beagles when food was administered as usual at 10 AM, after 1 day's withholding, after 3 days' withholding, and after refeeding at 10 AM the next day.
Overall mean plasma ghrelin concentrations were significantly lower when food was administered than after food withholding. Overall mean plasma GH and IGF-I concentrations did not differ significantly among the 4 periods. Circulating overall mean glucose and insulin concentrations were significantly higher after refeeding, compared with the 3 other periods.
In dogs, food withholding and food intake were associated with higher and lower circulating ghrelin concentrations, respectively, suggesting that, in dogs, ghrelin participates in the control of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis. Changes in plasma ghrelin concentrations were not associated with similar changes in plasma GH concentrations, whereas insulin and glucose concentrations appeared to change reciprocally with the ghrelin concentrations.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 10/2006; 67(9):1557-63. · 1.27 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Circulating ghrelin, the natural ligand of GHS-R 1a, is synthesized primarily in the stomach in mammals. The distribution of these receptors is consistent with the role of ghrelin in promoting secretion of GH; receptors are highly expressed in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland and are also distributed in other central and peripheral tissue sites. In addition to strong GH-releasing activity, ghrelin has other actions, including stimulation of lactotroph and corticotroph function, stimulation of appetite, regulation of energy homeostasis, stimulation of gastric motility and gastric acid secretion, regulation of insulin secretion and glucose metabolism, cardiovascular effects, and antiproliferative activity. These properties make ghrelin a candidate for future diagnostic and clinical applications.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 02/2006; 67(1):180-8. · 1.27 Impact Factor
