NERVE SHEATH TUMORS IN THE DOG AND CAT

Schwannomas were diagnosed in twelve dogs and five cats at Massey Univ ersity Small Animal Clinic and Hospital over a 15-year period (1977-92 ). A further two feline cases were reported at the Batchelar Animal He alth Laboratory. In six dogs, the tumour involved nerves of the brachi al plexus. Clinical signs observed in these dogs were forelimb lamenes s, muscle wasting and pain on movement of the affected limb or neck. H indlimb paresis was observed in two dogs. Surgical excision of the bra chial plexus tumour was attempted in one dog, leading to an 8-month re mission of signs. In one dog, the tumour involved the sacral nerves, a nd in two dogs the cranial nerves were affected. Three dogs had skin n odules. Seven of the twelve affected dogs were destroyed. In five cats , the tumours developed on the carpus, tarsus or interdigital area of a forelimb or hindlimb as a slowly developing nodular lesion. In the o ther two cats, the site of the tumour was the flank and the lateral th igh respectively. Surgical excision of the tumour was successful in th ree cats.