In this lecture, Dr Elizabeth Goudie talks about the challenges we face when anesthetizing a brachycephalic dog, such as a French Bulldog, for advanced imaging. Dr Goudie discusses the underlying pathophysiology of brachycephalic breeds and the common comorbidities encountered in this population. Best practices for anesthetic management to prevent airway crisis, vagal episodes, and regurgitation, as well as manage recovery, are discussed.

Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is a rare congenital or acquired condition caused by abnormal caudal positioning and/or traction of the spinal cord and meninges, predominantly observed at the level of the conus medullaris. Congenital TCS may result from a tight filum terminale, characterized by reduced elasticity, shortened length, and/or abnormal composition, and may coexist with malformations. In dogs, TCS has been reported in association with spina bifida, myelomeningocele, myeloschysis, and dermoid sinus type VI. However, it may also occur without overt structural deformities. The term occult tethered cord syndrome (OTCS) has been proposed in such cases. In this webinar, Dr. Javier Espinosa reviews his recent study on 30 dogs with confirmed or presumed OTCS, which aimed to characterize the clinical presentation, MRI findings, treatment modalities, and outcomes in these dogs.

Prophylactic fenestration (PF) has been reported to protect against recurrent intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE), but recurrence is not always confirmed. No published studies address the cost-benefit of PF. Prophylactic fenestration requires additional surgical and anesthetic time, as well as further tissue dissection, all of which contribute to both surgical morbidity and the overall cost of veterinary care. Furthermore, PF is associated with adverse events such as hemorrhage, vertebral instability, further extrusion, iatrogenic discospondylitis, and nerve root trauma, but these are rare when performed by experienced surgeons, with a published complication rate of 0.01%.In this live webinar, Dr. Daniel Low discusses his recently published study on MRI follow-up of chondrodystrophic dogs that underwent prophylactic fenestration.

Dr Cecilia Danciu presents her latest publication on the clinical and imaging characteristics of CSF collection complications in 11 dogs.

Complications associated with CSF collection have been reported in dogs and include progressive myelomalacia and hematomyelia. A retrospective study of 30 dogs with intracranial neoplasia documented a complication secondary to CSF collection in 17% of the dogs, with the reported complications including coma, stupor and apnea. Information on the rate of major complications arising as a result of CSF collection in dogs with other neurological disorders, potential risk factors for such complications, including neurological examination findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features are discussed in this webinar summarizing the publication. A link to the publication is provided.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12172569/

In this journal club webinar, Dr. Theofanis Liatis discusses his most recent publication on generalised tremors in dogs based on a collection of 198 cases. The objective of the research was to describe the clinical characteristics of the cases, the prevalence of the diseases associated with generalized tremors in dogs, and identify clinical features that could be associated with the underlying disease. A tremor is an involuntary, rhythmic, oscillatory movement of a body part and generalized tremors affect the entire body. However, these tremors may have different features, such as being activated upon gravity (postural) or deteriorating with excitement and movement (action‐related kinetic), being episodic or continuous, or accompanied by intention head tremors. Generalized tremors have been associated with idiopathic generalized tremor syndrome, mycotoxin intoxication as well as other toxic diseases (e.g., metaldehyde, avermectins), metabolic diseases (e.g., hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperchloremia, hypokalemia, hyperammonemia, hepatic encephalopathy), orthostatic tremors and hypomyelination or dysmyelination.

In this journal club webinar, Dr. Jaoa Miguel De Frias from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, UK, discusses his two recent studies on spinal subarachnoid diverticula in dogs and cats. The clinical and imaging characteristics are explained and the therapy and prognosis are reviewed based on the results of the studies.

In this live journal club webinar, Dr. Cecilia-Gabrilla Danciu reviews her recent publication which looked at canine stroke.Dr. Danciu's team looked at 125 dogs with ischemic stroke in attempt to document comorbidities, long-term outcome (survival and stroke recurrence), and the occurrence of epileptic seizures. Given the limited information concerning the long‐term outcome of dogs diagnosed with ischemic stroke, further investigation regarding prognostic factors is needed. Additionally, veterinary literature specifically evaluating the occurrence of poststroke epileptic seizures and epilepsy alongside survival in dogs is currently limited and so this study is a vital addition to our knowledge.Click on this link to read the study:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles...

In this live journal club sponsored by Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging, Dr. Nick Grapes discusses his study of 108 English and French bulldogs with discospondylitis. Vertebral body malformations are frequently identified incidentally, with a prevalence of over 70-80% in neurologically normal French and English bulldogs. While these 'birth defects' may increase the risk of intervertebral disc extrusions, there is no information on an association with discospondylitis, commonly a bacterial infection of a disc and the associated vertebral endplates. This study addresses whether there is indeed a relationship in these breeds with vertebral body malformations, frequently hemivertebrae.

In this episode of our live journal club webinar series, Dr. Emili Alcoverro discusses his study on the clinical and MRI characteristics of hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion (HNPE) when it affects the thoracolumbar vertebral column (TLVC) and compares it to intervertebral disc extrusion. Watch this session to learn more about HNPE and its relationship in the TLVC to breed, age, history and clinical signs. This webinar is sponsored by Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging.

In this live webinar, Dr. Rita Goncalves discusses her recent publication which investigates the prognostic utility of MRI in determining the survival and potential for relapse in dogs with MUO. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for diagnosing MUO in dogs. Identifying MRI features associated with the outcome would be very helpful. So far, mass effect, loss of identifiable cerebral sulci (effacement), and foramen magnum herniation have been linked to an increased risk of mortality, but not with long-term outcomes. This study highlights the MRI based prognostic factors in a group of dogs with MUO.

In this webinar, Drs Citlalli Limpens and Paul Mandigers discuss their study on the effect of MRI screening and selection programs on the prevalence of syringomyelia in Dutch and Danish Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Syringomyelia (SM) is highly heritable indicating that selection to decrease the prevalence of the disorder is possible. A candidate genetic locus associated with syrinx transverse diameter has been identified, but the causal mutations have not been identified yet, and selection based on this locus has not been used for selective breeding strategies. Breeders who want to reduce the number of SM-affected Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) without an MRI cannot rely on the clinical signs. The only current reliable tool for breed selection against SM in CKCS is MRI. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of MRI-based selection in breeding on the prevalence of SM in the screened population of CKCS in Denmark and the Netherlands.

Click on this link to read the paper: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10859423/

In this journal club episode, Dr. Thanis Liatis discusses his study on dogs with non-intentional (episodic) head tremors. These tremors occur mainly at rest, can usually be terminated by distraction, and can have vertical (yes-yes), horizontal (no-no) or rotational directions. This is the sole clinical sign of a movement disorder called idiopathic episodic head tremor in dogs. Several breeds have been reported with this disorder, of which Bulldogs and Dobermans have been associated with a potential breed predisposition. The aim of Dr. Liatis' study was to describe the signalment, semiology, MRI findings and outcomes of dogs with both idiopathic and structural causes of this movement disorder.

In this episode, we interview veterinary neurosurgeon Dr. Cris Falzone, a neurology specialist from Italy, on "How do I manage disc-associated wobbler syndrome (DAWS)?". Disc-associated Wobbler syndrome is the most prevalent and most typical Wobbler syndrome in dogs. It is typically seen in the middle-aged Dobermann Pinscher. Caudal cervical spinal cord compression is caused by protrusion of the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal, sometimes in combination with ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and malformed vertebrae. There is a lot of controversy concerning the treatment of this disease and objective data about the prognosis of this disease is scarce.

In this webinar, we interview Dr. Clare Rusbridge about Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia. This is a complex developmental condition of the skull and craniocervical vertebrae, and is characterised by a conformational change and overcrowding of the brain and cervical spinal cord, particularly at the craniospinal junction. Obstruction to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) channels can result in pain and a tendency for fluid cavitation of the spinal cord, called syringomyelia (SM).

A wonderful paper on this subject published by Dr Rusbridge can be found at the following link: https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1136/inp.m1869

In this webinar, we interview Dr. Colin Driver (Dipl. ECVN) from Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists on "How do I treat thoracolumbar myelopathies in Pug dogs". Colin has extensive experience on the subject of both imaging findings and surgical treatment of these complex conditions.

In this episode, Dr Lisa Bartner from Colorado State University discusses what is known on the use of cannabidiol for canine epilepsy. The anticonvulsant effect of cannabidiol (CBD), which has been confirmed by findings from animal models and human trials, has attracted the interest of veterinary practitioners and dog owners. We interviewed Dr. Bartner about the potential use of CBD for dogs that exhibit seizure activity. Check out this recent 2023 paper which Lisa's group has published on the use of CBD for refractory canine epilepsy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658598/

In this session, we interview Dr. Mark Lowrie on paroxysmal dyskinesia, a movement disorder seen in both dogs and cats. These can be challenging presentations that can easily be confused with seizures but have some notable differences. Genetic advancements have been made in several breeds and there are some treatment options, all of which will be discussed in this webinar.

In this session, Dr. Ines Carrera talks about the MR imaging features of two common acute spinal cord diseases in dogs: Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy or FCEM, and acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion or ANNPE. Can we reliably distinguish between the two conditions on MRI and can MRI provide negative prognostic indicators for recovery?

In this episode, our guest is Professor John Innes, orthopaedic specialist and Director of Movement Referrals in the UK. John and Laurent answer questions on the clinical approach to forelimb lameness and monoparesis to define where possible what is orthopaedic and what is neurologic, and to review what considerations for underlying causes we should have.

In this journal club webinar, Dr John Rossmeisl, Professor of neurology/neurosurgery at Virginia-Maryland, College of Veterinary Medicine discusses his article on the comparison between direct measurement of ICP and presumptive clinical and MRI indicators of intracranial hypertension (ICH) in dogs with brain tumors.

The objectives of this study were to: (a) evaluate the feasibility of direct ICP monitoring with a catheter strain-gauge microsensor transducer in dogs with brain tumors, (b) determine if direct ICP values were different between dogs with brain tumors and controls, and (c) determine if indirect MRI or clinical measures of presumed ICH could discriminate dogs with and without ICH.

You can read his article on this link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvim.15802