title: Acral mutilation and analgesia in 13 French spaniels.
abstract: Acral mutilation and analgesia (AMA) is reported in 13 French spaniels in Canada. This newly recognized disorder shares striking similarities in clinical features and biopsy findings to the other acral mutilation syndromes or hereditary sensory neuropathies reported in German short-haired pointer dogs, English pointer dogs and English springer spaniels. Clinical signs are first noted between 3.5 and 12 months of age. Affected dogs lick, bite and severely self-mutilate their distal extremities resulting in ulcers with secondary bacterial infection. Auto-amputation of claws, digits and footpads occurs in severe cases. Single or multiple feet can be affected. Affected dogs walked on their severely mutilated feet without evidence of pain, lameness, or ataxia. The majority of the dogs were euthanized within days to months of diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, University of Montreal, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada. manon.paradis@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paradis
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Jaham
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sauve
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Helie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D009477:Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011792:Quebec; D012652:Self Mutilation