Myelography is very important in diagnosis of cervical spondylomyelopathy. Plain radiographs are valuable in ruling out other conditions (i.e., trauma, neoplasia of vertebral body, and discospondylitis), but they are not accurate in locating the site of spinal cord compression. Computed tomographic myelography and magnetic resonance imaging may potentially provide prognostic information by detecting spinal cord atrophy.

Local reflexes in all four legs are intact, with frequent hyperreflexia and crossed extensor responses in the pelvic limbs.Дiagnostic evaluation of dogs suspected of suffering from cervical spondylomyelopathy includes careful evaluation of the history, physical and neurological examinations, laboratory evaluations including cerebrospinal fluid analysis and radiological assessment including plain radiography and myelography. Results of neurological examination are variable but conscious proprioceptive responses are usually depressed in the pelvic limbs. Myelography of these cases will reveal a swollen spinal cord. In these cases it is suggested that an episode of hyperextension has occurred which has caused spinal cord concussion. Lameness and atrophy of the infraspinatus and supraspinatus muscles in one thoracic limb or pain when traction is applied to the limb (root signature), suggest that nerve root compression is present.ДЄlthough dogs affected by cervical spondylomyelopathy will usually develop symptoms over a long period, occasional dogs will present with acute tetraparesis. Extension of the neck often accentuates spinal cord compression with consequent worsening of motor deficits. Cervical hyperesthesia, guarding of the neck or a low carriage of the head may be seen because this position results in the least amount of spinal cord compression. Eventually, the dog may become sufficiently tetraparetic, to have difficulty rising from lateral recumbency or from sitting position or unable to walk. The same time the thoracic limbs are moving in a short, choppy manner and often held in extension when the dog is in lateral recumbency. This ranges in severity from mild ataxia to marked pelvic limb hypermetria. The most common presentation is a gait disturbance that is most severe in the pelvic limbs. Radiculopathy is probably an important contributory factor to the pain, lameness and shoulder muscle atrophy.Д¬linical signs are related to the severity of spinal cord compression and therefore are variable in nature and degree. The clinical signs reflect either damage to the spinal cord (myelopathy) or the spinal nerve roots (radiculopathy), or both. There is no sex predisposition in affected dogs. In general, Great Danes are affected at less than 2 years of age, where Doberman pinschers and other breeds more frequently manifest clinical signs at 2 years of age or older. The age of onset of clinical signs is variable, ranging from 3 months to 9 years. The lesion is located more frequently to C 4-C 6 vertebrae in the Great Danes and C 5-C 7 in Doberman pinchers.

Myelopathy may result from stenosis of the vertebral canal, vertebral instability, disc herniation (Hansen type II), ligamentous hypertrophy, joint capsule proliferation or osteophyte production. Multiply factors including 'over nutrition' and hypercalcitoninism, mechanical factors, genetic factors and degenerative disk disease are probably involved. This syndrome has also been called caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy (CCSM), Wobbler syndrome, cervical malformation-malarticulation, cervical vertebral instability and cervical spondylolisthesis. Doberman pinchers and Great Danes are the breeds most commonly affected (80% of cases). Cervical spondylomyelopathy is a common neurological syndrome of large and giant breed dogs, characterized by cervical spinal cord and nerve root compression.

Cid episode 1267