The use of cannabidiol (CBD) in childhood refractory seizures has become a common therapeutic approach for specific seizure disorders in human medicine. Similarly, there is an interest in using CBD, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) or cannabinoid-rich hemp products in the treatment of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs. We aimed to examine a small cohort in a pilot investigation using a CBD and CBDA-rich hemp product for the treatment of refractory epileptic seizures in dogs. Fourteen dogs were examined in a 24-week randomized cross-over study being provided placebo or CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract treatment at 2 mg/kg orally every 12 h for each 12-week arm of the study. Serum chemistry, complete blood counts, serum anti-seizure medication (ASM) concentrations and epileptic seizure frequency were followed over both arms of the cross-over trial. Results demonstrated that besides a mild increase in alkaline phosphatase, there were no alterations observed on routine bloodwork at 2, 6, and 12 weeks during either arm of the study. Epileptic seizure frequency decreased across the population from a mean of 8.0 ± 4.8 during placebo treatment to 5.0 ± 3.6 with CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract (P = 0.02). In addition, epileptic seizure event days over the 12 weeks of CBD/CBDA-rich hemp treatment were 4.1 ± 3.4, which was significantly different than during the 12 weeks of placebo treatment (5.8 ± 3.1; P =0.02). The number of dogs with a 50% reduction in epileptic activity while on treatment were 6/14, whereas 0/14 had reductions of 50% or greater while on the placebo (P = 0.02). No differences were observed in serum zonisamide, phenobarbital or bromide concentrations while on the treatment across groups. Adverse events were minimal, but included somnolence (3/14) and transient increases in ataxia (4/14) during CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract treatment; this was not significantly different from placebo. This further indicates that providing CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract during refractory epilepsy (only partially responsive to ASM), in conjunction with other ASM appears safe. Based on this information, the use of 2 mg/kg every 12 h of a CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract can have benefits in reducing the incidence of epileptic seizures, when used concurrently with other ASMs.

Background: Non-suppurative encephalitides in a variety of species, including humans and dogs, have been linked to infection by astroviruses and bornaviruses. Hypothesis/Objectives: To determine whether or not ribonucleic acid of astroviruses or bornaviruses was present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of dogs with clinically diagnosed meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology (MUE). Animals: Twenty-five client-owned dogs evaluated by CSF analysis at a single university referral hospital. Methods: Prospective case-control study. Cerebrospinal fluid was collected from clinically diagnosed MUE and control cases and evaluated by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for the presence of astrovirus and bornavirus. Results: Neither astrovirus nor bornavirus nucleic acids were identified in CSF collected from 20 clinically diagnosed MUE and 5 control cases. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The negative results of this investigation suggest that astrovirus and bornavirus are not commonly detectable in CSF of dogs with MUE.

A neutered male Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)presented with paraplegia of 5 days' duration. Thoracolumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a focal, linear T2-W hyperintense intramedullary lesion at the level of T10-11 as well as reduced size of the nucleus pulposus of the T10-11 intervertebral disc. The animal was humanely euthanatized as a result of the severity of clinical signs and the poor prognosis. Gross necropsy revealed a dark red, firm focus on the spinal cord at the level of the T11 nerve roots. Histopathology revealed liquefactive necrosis of the ventral spinal cord at the level of T9-11, with hemorrhage and vascular changes within the cord and associated meninges. Fibrovascular tissue with hemorrhage, fibrin, and fragments of cartilage consistent with nucleus pulposus material was identified extradurally at this level. The findings were consistent with acute noncompressive nucleus pulposus extrusion.

Background: No available literature supports the claim that the patellar and withdrawal (flexor) reflexes are the only reliable segmental reflexes in dogs. Objective: Measure intra- and interobserver agreement of 8 segmental reflexes in dogs without clinical evidence of orthopedic or neurologic disease. Animals: One-hundred and one client- or staff-owned dogs between 1 and 10 years of age with no clinical evidence of orthopedic disease, myelopathy, or neuromuscular disease. Methods: Descriptive study. The intraobserver proportion of agreement (%) of responses to selected segmental reflexes in right versus left limbs by 3 observers was calculated and reported. The interobserver agreement of 2 observers of responses to selected reflexes was estimated by calculating proportions of agreement, kappa values, and 95% confidence intervals. A segmental reflex with an acceptable agreement was defined as that with a proportion of agreement ≥90% and a Kappa value ≥0.61 in both limbs. Results: The intraobserver proportion of agreement for all 3 observers was high (≥95%) for the extensor carpi radialis, withdrawal, patellar, and cranial tibial reflexes. Between observers 1 and 3 and observers 2 and 3, the interobserver proportion of agreement was high (≥ 92%) for the extensor carpi radialis (κ 0.66, not determined [ND]), withdrawal (both limbs, κ ND), patellar (κ ND), and cranial tibial reflexes (κ ND). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The extensor carpi radialis, withdrawal, patellar, and cranial tibial reflexes had a higher proportion of agreement and kappa values between 2 observers.

In dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy for acute intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE), adjunctive nonpharmacologic therapies may help provide postoperative analgesia while reducing reliance on opioids and their associated adverse effects. This prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled trial evaluated the short-term analgesic effects of interferential current electrotherapy (IFC) in dogs following thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy for acute IVDE. Twenty dogs were randomly assigned to receive conventional analgesia alone (control, n = 10) or conventional analgesia plus IFC (n = 10). The IFC group received three IFC sessions administered within the first 24 h postoperatively. Outcome measures were collected at three predefined postoperative time points corresponding to IFC treatment sessions: T1 (2–4 h), T2 (8–18 h), and T3 (20–24 h postoperatively). Outcome measures included Modified Glasgow Composite Pain Scale–Short Form (CMPS-SF) scores, total postoperative opioid consumption, and peri-incisional mechanical sensory thresholds. Dogs treated with IFC demonstrated significantly lower CMPS-SF pain scores at the T2 time point compared with controls (p = 0.03); however, no differences were observed at T1 or T3 time points. Total opioid consumption and mechanical sensory thresholds did not differ significantly between groups at any time point. These findings suggest that IFC may provide transient postoperative analgesic benefit but does not appear to reduce opioid requirements or mechanical sensory thresholds within the first 24 h following hemilaminectomy. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to better define the role of IFC in multimodal postoperative pain management and to explore optimal treatment protocols.