Evaluation of nonsurgical treatment of atlantoaxial subluxation in dogs: 19 cases (1992-2001).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term neurologic outcome in dogs with atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) that were treated nonsurgically with a cervical splint. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 19 dogs with AAS and managed with a cervical splint. PROCEDURE: Medical records from 2 university hospitals were reviewed. Information pertaining to trauma, duration of clinical signs prior to admission, medical treatments prior to admission, results of neurologic and physical examinations at the time of admission, results of laboratory testing, results of diagnostic imaging, neurologic status at the time of discharge, duration of time the cervical splint was used for treatment, and neurologic status at the time of splint removal and at a final reexamination was extracted from the medical records. Long-term outcome was defined as neurologic status greater than or equal to 1 year after splint removal. Factors associated with a good or poor long-term outcome were determined. RESULTS: A good final outcome was reported in 10 of 16 dogs. Median duration of clinical signs prior to referral was 30 days; dogs that were affected < or = 30 days were significantly more likely to have a good long-term outcome, compared with dogs affected > 30 days. The neurologic grade at admission, radiographic appearance of the dens, age at onset of clinical signs, and history were not associated with outcome. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nonsurgical management of AAS by use of a cervical splint is a viable treatment modality for young dogs with a first episode of acute-onset clinical signs, regardless of the severity of neurologic deficits at admission.

Gastric outflow obstruction after ingestion of wood glue in a dog.

A 2-year-old, male, mixed-breed dog presented with a 12-day history of vomiting, depression, and weight loss after ingestion of industrial-strength wood glue containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate as its active ingredient. A diagnosis of gastric foreign body was made from survey abdominal radiographs. A large aggregate of solidified wood glue was surgically removed, and the dog recovered uneventfully. Fourteen other cases have been reported to the Animal Poison Control Center at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Eight of those 14 cases required surgical intervention. All cases recovered completely.