Clare Rusbridge

University of Surrey · School of Veterinary Medicine

Background Myoclonus has been described in aging Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS), but the natural course of the disease and response to treatment have not been described. Objectives Report the clinical features and course of myoclonus in CKCS. Animals Twenty‐seven caregivers provided questionnaire responses at a median of 24 months after th...

Case Description Dogs' caregivers were contacted and requested to complete a questionnaire and provide consent for obtaining clinical history. The questionnaire gathered information on mobility grading after surgery, recurrence of neurological signs, presence of urinary and/or fecal incontinence, cause of death (if applicable), and overall post-sur...

Acute polyradiculoneuritis (APRN) is a suspected autoimmune neuropathy characterised by ascending flaccid tetraparesis and lymphocytic radiculitis. While its exact cause is unknown, anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a IgG antibodies serve as biomarkers in dogs and cats, and antiganglioside antibodies are also associated with the counterpart human disease...

Practical relevance Chronic pain is a significant welfare concern in cats, and neuropathic pain, which arises from aberrant processing of sensory signals within the nervous system, is a subcategory of this type of pain. To comprehend this condition and how multimodal pharmacotherapy plays a central role in alleviating discomfort, it is crucial to d...

This study examines data from surrendered dogs to assess prevalent surrender reasons and overall health status, following concerns raised by a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) Rescue charity regarding the increasing number of dogs surrendered with multiple health conditions and the resulting financial, emotional and logistic burden

We have developed an online tool that triages the likelihood of CM-P or SM before recommending expensive diagnostics such as MRI. The tool supports suspected diagnosis where further diagnostics are restricted because of cost. The collected data provides researchers better insight into common clinical indicators of CM-P and SM for diagnosis, monitor...

Background Syringomyelia (SM) is a prevalent inherited developmental condition in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) with Chiari-like malformation (CM), accompanied by a variety of clinical manifestations, including signs of neuropathic pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard in SM diagnosis. However, it is desirable to esta...

The development of a cost-effective surface scanning system tailored for live animal image capture can play an important role in biomedical research. The primary aim was to introduce a low-cost system, achieving a surface reconstruction error of less than 2mm, and enabling rapid acquisition speeds of approximately 1 second for a complete 360-degree...

Background French bulldogs hospitalised for the management of intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) are frequently affected by respiratory compromise, typically brachycephalic‐associated upper respiratory obstruction and/or aspiration events. We evaluated the occurrence of such respiratory compromise events in French bulldogs presented to two referr...

Graphic cartoon on Chiari-like malformation a developmental condition which changes the shape of the skull and the bones at the top of the neck resulting in a reduced space for the brain and the spinal cord to fit into

• Pain extends beyond being a mere unpleasant sensory and emotional experience; it prompts a behavioural response to protect body tissue from danger. • Pain-related behavioural change can result from protective emotional bias in animals, while chronic physiological stress can exacerbate these manifestations. • Pets can suffer from neuropathic pain...

Background: There is limited published information to guide the clinical management of bacterial meningitis/encephalitis in dogs. Methods: This was a retrospective case series comprising 10 French bulldogs from two referral centres. The cases were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis/encephalitis suspected secondary to otogenic infection based on...

Background Autoimmune mechanisms represent a novel category for causes of seizures and epilepsies in humans, and LGI1‐antibody associated limbic encephalitis occurs in cats. Hypothesis/Objectives To investigate the presence of neural antibodies in dogs with epilepsy or dyskinesia of unknown cause using human and murine assays modified for use in d...

Background Non‐traumatic spinal cord hemorrhage (NTSH) is an uncommon cause of myelopathy in dogs. Objectives Describe the clinical characteristics, concurrent medical conditions and underlying causes, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and outcome in dogs with NTSH. Animals Dogs diagnosed with NTSH using gradient echo T2‐weighted (GRE) se...

Case summary A 10-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 5-month history of progressive non-ambulatory paraparesis. Initial vertebral column radiographs revealed an L2–L3 expansile osteolytic lesion. Spinal MRI showed a well-demarcated, compressive expansile extradural mass lesion affecting the caudal lamina, caudal arti...

Background: Some paroxysmal movement disorders remain without an identified genetic cause. Objectives: The aim was to identify the causal genetic variant for a paroxysmal dystonia-ataxia syndrome in Weimaraner dogs. Methods: Clinical and diagnostic investigations were performed. Whole genome sequencing of one affected dog was used to identify...

Brachycephaly (shortened cranium) is associated with major health and welfare problems in many dog breeds and crosses. • One of the most serious consequences of brachycephalic conformation are the nervous system disorder Chiari-like Malformation (CM) and the respiratory disorder Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). • In CM, nervous ti...

Background and aims: Recent work identified anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a IgG ganglioside antibodies as biomarkers in dogs clinically diagnosed with acute canine polyradiculoneuritis, in turn considered a canine equivalent of Guillain-Barré syndrome. This study aims to investigate the serum prevalence of similar antibodies in cats clinically diagn...

In the Head Space Project, we aim to create an objective assessment of head shape using facial recognition technology to better define the face of CM-P and SM. To achieve this, we first built a dedicated 5-camera system which can gather 3D data to generate a 3D model of the complete head. We are now making 3D computer models of dogs with known clin...

Nasal Septum deviation in breeds predisposed to Chiari-like malformation associated pain and syringomyelia Objectives Nasal septum deviation (NSD) and Chiari-like malformation pain and syringomyelia (CMSM) are common in flat-faced brachycephalic dogs. NSD may be clinically irrelevant but has been associated with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) i...

Background Myoclonus is observed in older Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) but a full description is lacking. Objectives The presence, age of onset, characteristics and treatment of myoclonic episodes were retrospectively evaluated in a cohort of CKCS which presented to 1 board‐certified neurologist. Clinical data, imaging studies, presence o...

Background Orthostatic tremor (OT) is a rare movement disorder characterized by high‐frequency (>12 Hz) involuntary, rhythmic, sinusoidal movements affecting predominantly the limbs while standing. Objective To describe the signalment, presenting complaints, phenotype, diagnostic findings, treatment, and outcome of a large sample of dogs with OT....

Objectives A previous single-country pilot study indicated serum anti-GM2 and anti-GA1 anti-glycolipid antibodies as potential biomarkers for acute canine polyradiculoneuritis. This study aims to validate these findings in a large geographically heterogenous cohort. Materials and Methods Sera from 175 dogs clinically diagnosed with acute canine po...

The exact pathogenesis of syringomyelia is unknown. Epidural venous distention during raised intrathoracic pressure (Valsalva) may cause impulsive movement of fluid (“slosh”) within the syrinx. Such a slosh mechanism is a proposed cause of syrinx dissection into spinal cord parenchyma resulting in craniocaudal propagation of the cavity. We sought t...

The superficial dorsal horn was previously found to be affected in CKCS with syringomyelia with the clinical sign of phantom scratching The NK 1 receptors located in this area are considered as a target for treatment for fictive itch We aimed to assess outcomes with 2 weeks maropitant treatment (NK 1 R antagonist) on frequency of phantom scratchin...

Canine Lafora disease is a recessively inherited, rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease caused by the accumulation of abnormally constructed insoluble glycogen Lafora bodies in the brain and other tissues due to the loss of NHL repeat containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (NHLRC1). Dogs have a dodecamer repeat sequence within the NHLRC1...

Case summary A rescue charity-owned 6-month-old neutered female domestic shorthair cat was presented with progressive tetraparesis, increased extensor muscle tone and signs of spinocerebellar ataxia, including hypermetria. The cat’s male sibling, with similar progressive neurological signs, had been euthanased 2 months previously. An inherited meta...

Case summary A 10-year-old male neutered Russian Blue cat was presented with a 2-month history of progressive non-ambulatory paraparesis. Spinal MRI revealed a well-demarcated, compressive intradural extramedullary mass at the level of T1 vertebra. The mass had subtle hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, was isointense on T1-weighted images and ha...

Objectives: There is a paucity of information on feline discospondylitis. This study aimed to describe the signalment, clinical and laboratory findings, aetiological agents, treatment and outcome in cats affected by discospondylitis. Methods: This was a retrospective review of the medical records of cats diagnosed with discospondylitis at four r...

Background The Chihuahua dog breed is known for frequent occurrence of a bregmatic fontanelle on the dorsal skull. A common conception is that this skull defect is a clinically irrelevant finding. No studies, however, describe its prevalence or whether it is accompanied by other persistent fontanelles (PFs). Although Chihuahuas are predisposed to C...

Background Persistent fontanelles (PFs) are, in Chihuahuas, almost ubiquitous. Furthermore, Chihuahuas are predisposed to other craniomorphological abnormalities, including syringomyelia (SM), ventriculomegaly, and craniocervical junction (CCJ) overcrowding resulting in neural tissue deviation. It is, however, undetermined if PFs are more common in...

The amyloidoses constitute a group of diseases occurring in humans and animals that are characterized by abnormal deposits of aggregated proteins in organs, affecting their structure and function. In the Abyssinian cat breed, a familial form of renal amyloidosis has been described. In this study, multi-omics analyses were applied and integrated to...

Background Canine idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the most common chronic neurological brain disease in dogs, yet it can only be diagnosed by exclusion of all other potential causes. In people, epilepsy has been associated with a reduction in brain volume. The objective was to estimate the volume of the forebrain (FB), subarachnoid space (SAS) and late...

Brachycephalic dogs remain popular, despite the knowledge that this head conformation is associated with health problems, including airway compromise, ocular disorders, neurological disease, and other co-morbidities. There is increasing evidence that brachycephaly disrupts cerebrospinal fluid movement and absorption, predisposing ventriculomegaly,...

A 10‐month‐old male Labrador retriever was presented for acute onset altered mentation and inability to walk. The dog was presented with a modified glasgow coma scale (MGCS) of 12 with tachycardia (148 bpm) and hypothermia (37°C). The dog had been normal the previous night then found semi‐comatose at the following morning. Investigations included h...

Background Occipitoatlantoaxial malformation (OAAM) is reported rarely in dogs and few treatment options are described. The congenital condition is thought to be associated with a proatlas re-segmentation failure resulting in malformation and malalignment of the craniovertebral junction which can result in C1 to 5 myelopathic signs. Methods Customi...

The corticolimbic system (prefrontal cortices, amygdala, and hippocampus) integrates emotion with cognition and produces a behavioral output that is flexible based on the environmental circumstances. It also modulates pain, being implicated in pathophysiology of maladaptive pain. Because of the anatomic and function overlap between corticolimbic ci...

Case series summary The aim of this case series was to describe the clinical presentation, imaging findings and histopathology of three cats with limited dorsal myeloschisis (LDM). The history, examination and MRI sequences were reviewed in three cases presented to a single referral hospital. The surgery report and histopathology were described in...

Over the last 15 years, research on canid cognition has revealed that domestic dogs possess a surprising array of complex socio‐cognitive skills pointing to the possibility that the domestication process might have uniquely altered their brains; however, we know very little about how evolutionary processes (natural or artificial) might have modifie...

Background: Chiari-like malformation (CM) is a developmental condition, characterised by a conformational change and overcrowding of the brain and cranial cervical spinal cord. CM-associated pain (CM-P) and syringomyelia are increasingly being diagnosed, due to the rising popularity of predisposed brachycephalic breeds and the availability of MRI i...

Kinesin-2 enables ciliary assembly and maintenance as an anterograde intraflagellar transport (IFT) motor. Molecular motor activity is driven by a heterotrimeric complex comprised of KIF3A and KIF3B or KIF3C plus one non-motor subunit, KIFAP3. Using exome sequencing, we identified heterozygous KIF3B variants in two unrelated families with hallmark...

We report persistence of associated syringomyelia and formation of newly caudal spinal arachnoid diverticulum, following marsupialization surgery. We describe syringopleural shunt placement as a novel approach to treat both conditions in a Pug dog.

Background: The Chihuahua dog breed is known for frequent occurrence of a bregmatic fontanelle on the dorsal skull. A common conception is that this skull defect is clinically irrelevant in Chihuahuas. No studies, however, describe the prevalence of this malformation, whether it is accompanied by fontanelles at other locations on the skull or how t...

Background Recent studies including an innovative machine learning technique indicated Chiari‐like malformation (CM) is influenced by brachycephalic features. Objectives Morphometric analysis of facial anatomy and dysmorphia in CM‐associated pain (CM‐P) and syringomyelia (SM) in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS). Animals Sixty‐six client‐o...

Background Breed-specific and broader cohort studies have shown behavioural changes in dogs following the onset of idiopathic epilepsy (IE). Methods A cross-sectional, case–control questionnaire study was carried out to strengthen this body of evidence. Owners of eight breeds of dog completed an online questionnaire about their dogs’ behaviour; on...

Background Chiari‐like malformation (CM) is a complex malformation of the skull and cranial cervical vertebrae that potentially results in pain and secondary syringomyelia (SM). Chiari‐like malformation‐associated pain (CM‐P) can be challenging to diagnose. We propose a machine learning approach to characterize morphological changes in dogs that ma...

Background Diagnosis of Chiari‐like malformation‐associated pain (CM‐P) or clinically relevant syringomyelia (SM) is challenging. We sought to determine common signs. Animals One hundred thirty client‐owned Cavalier King Charles spaniels with neuroaxis magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diagnosis of CM‐P/SM. Dogs with comorbidities causing simil...

a portosystemic shunt is an abnormal communication between the portal vascular system and the systemic circulation. a significant number of clinical signs associated with portosystemic shunting result from hepatic encephalopathy (He); a syndrome encompassing neurological signs such as including changes in behaviour, ataxia, unresponsiveness, pacing...

Background A retrospective case series study was undertaken to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in Pug dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy and concurrent caudal articular process (CAP) dysplasia. Electronic clinical records were searched for Pug dogs who underwent MRI for the investigation of a T3-L3 spinal cord segment disease...

Background Disregarding atlantoaxial instability in toy breed dogs associated with dens malformation and cervical spondylomyelopathy; cervical vertebral malformations are rare and poorly characterised in veterinary medicine and consequently treatment strategies and clinical outcome are sparsely documented. Results Electronic clinical records at ou...