Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy in miniature schnauzers

In large- and giant-breed dogs, fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM ) is a well-recognized syndrome of acute spinal cord infarction caused by e mbolization of fibrocartilage. The miniature schnauzer is reportedly the mo st frequently affected small breed, although clinical data from only six mi niature schnauzers with FCEM is available in the literature. The purposes o f this study were to determine the relative frequency of FCEM compared to o ther causes of myelopathy in miniature schnauzers, to characterize the clin icopathological features of FCEM in 38 miniature schnauzers, and to directl y compare FCEM and intervertebral disk herniation in miniature schnauzers w ith respect to age at diagnosis; gender; neuroanatomical localization; and progression, asymmetry, and severity of neurological deficits. Fibrocartila ginous embolic myelopathy was the most common cause of myelopathy in miniat ure schnauzers, Age at diagnosis, asymmetry and severity of neurological de ficits, and lack of progression of clinical signs after 24 hours assisted i n distinguishing FCEM from intervertebral disk herniation. Fibrocartilagino us embolic myelopathy-related mortality in miniature schnauzers was signifi cantly lower than mortality rates reported for affected large and giant bre eds, Only 22% of miniature schnauzers were euthanized because of their dise ase, although the vast majority of survivors failed to achieve complete neu rological recovery.