title: Dogs attending primary-care practice in England with clinical signs suggestive of Chiari-like malformation/syringomyelia.
abstract: Chiari-like malformation/syringomyelia (CM/SM) in dogs describes a developmental disorder that can cause pain and reduced quality of life. This retrospective study aimed to report the period prevalence, clinical signs and risk factors for diagnosis of symptomatic CM/SM in the veterinary primary-care setting using a cross-sectional design. The study population included all dogs within the VetCompass Programme (September 1, 2009-June 13, 2014). Overall, the period prevalence of symptomatic CM/SM was 0.05 per cent (95 per cent CI 0.04 per cent to 0.06 per cent) for all breeds. The period prevalence in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) was 1.6 per cent (95 per cent CI 1.2 to 2.06). Other breeds at increased odds included the King Charles Spaniel (KCS), Affenpinscher, Chihuahua and Pomeranian. Insured dogs had 4.6 times the odds (95 per cent CI 2.95 to 7.17) of having a diagnosis of CM/SM compared with uninsured dogs. Pain was the most commonly associated clinical sign (67 dogs, 72 per cent). Analgesics were prescribed to 72 (77.4 per cent) of the symptomatic dogs. Despite its low overall period prevalence, the high proportion of affected dogs identified with chronic pain suggests a significant welfare issue. Financial implications could impede the diagnostic process and lead to underestimation of the true prevalence. This study may help to inform clinicians about the clinical relevance and the need for improved awareness of clinical signs, particularly in high-risk breeds, to optimise the management of CM/SM in primary-care practice.
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchis-Mora
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pelligand
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: H A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7312-638X
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Volk
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abeyesinghe
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Brodbelt
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Church
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McGreevy
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001947:Breeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007341:Insurance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Chiari-like malformation; Epidemiology; breed; dog; prevalence; syringomyelia