• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.399-403
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• 2006

Caudal occipital malformation syndrome (COMS) is relatively common disease which occurs at craniocervical junction. It has been known that this syndrome was developed mainly in Cavalier King Charles spaniels, but these days there are a lot of case reports about COMS in other small breed dogs. In this report, COMS was diagnosed in ten dogs presented to Haemaru Referral Animal Hospital using MRI examination from January 2005 to April 2006. These cases were also investigated about concurrent diseases and syringomyelia was the most common type of complication, but clinical signs were nonspecific. COMS could be controlled by medical therapy with corticosteroid except cases with concurrent meningitis. It is considered that the present report could provide information regarding imaging and clinical features of COMS such as concurrent diseases, clinical signs, and prognosis in small animal practice despite of limited case numbers.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.381-384
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• 2016

A 7-year-old intact female Maltese dog was referred to the hospital with a history of paresis in the hind limbs, left head turn, and a loss of balance that persisted for 2 weeks. Her condition was initially managed with steroids, prescribed by the referring veterinarian, but her neurological symptoms were not alleviated. Physical and neurological examinations, radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Based on the findings on these examinations, caudal occipital malformation syndrome (COMS) with syringohydromyelia was diagnosed. Medical treatment was not effective in the previous trial; therefore, foramen magnum decompression, durotomy, and free autogenous adipose tissue grafting were performed. After 3 days, an improvement was observed in the clinical symptoms and was maintained for 8 months postoperatively. Based on the results, it is suggested that the decompression method with a fat graft may be considered an effective surgical treatment for the management of COMS that did not respond well to previous medical treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.449-453
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• 2017

A 3-year-old castrated male Maltese dog, weighing 4.8 kg was referred with hindlimb ataxia and right forelimb proprioceptive deficits were shown for 20 months. Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia diagnosed through MRI at a local animal hospital and Knuckling of right forelimb and reluctance to walk were managed with steroid. The medical management was getting ineffective to manage for the symptoms one month before referred. Physical and neurological examinations, radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed and diagnoses of caudal occipital malformation syndrome (COMS) and subsequent syringomyelia (SM) were made. Given that pharmacological treatment was previously ineffective, surgical intervention was recommended. Foramen magnum decompression with duraplasty using $Lyoplant^{(R)}$ was performed. Three days post-surgery, the dog showed improved gait and activity. After 2 months, the dog received no additional prescription medications. At the 12-month follow-up after surgery, the dog showed no clinical problems or recurrences, despite complete cessation of pharmacological treatment. In present report, we applied $Lyoplant^{(R)}$ as a dural graft has been carried out in a dog with COMS. Surgical decompression with $Lyoplant^{(R)}$ was an effective long-term (12-month) treatment for COMS without the need for any pharmacological treatment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.229-229
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• 2009

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.143-146
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• 2021

A 2-year-old intact female Maltese dog was presented with generalized involuntary tremors and nystagmus without regular direction. The dog was conscious the whole time while it was trembling. Its involuntary tremors were alleviated at rest or during sleep. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed asymmetric hydrocephalus and caudal occipital malformation. In cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, a trace of protein was found and total nucleated cell count (TNCC) was slightly increased. However, infectious pathogens were not found. In complete blood count, there was a mild leukocytosis. After the patient received anticonvulsants (midazolam, phenobarbital, KBr), diuretics (furosemide) with an anti-inflammatory drug (prednisolone, 0.5 mg/kg PO bid), and a proton-pump inhibitor (omeprazole), it showed no improvement. The patient was tentatively diagnosed with corticosteroid responsive tremor syndrome. So the anticonvulsants and diuretics were discontinued and the dose of prednisolone was increased to an immunosuppressive dose (1 mg/kg PO bid). After administering the immunosuppressive dose of prednisolone, the patient did not show nystagmus. Its tremors were much alleviated. However, they did not disappear. Five weeks later, the patient showed gradual improvement but still was trembling when moving around. Nine weeks later, its tremors were similar to before. So diazepam (0.3 mg/kg PO sid) was added to the treatment. After that, its tremors were alleviated more. Prednisolone and diazepam were maintained for about five months, with tapering of the dose of prednisolone (until 0.5 mg/kg PO sid). About 7 months later after the treatment was started, the dog was trembling rarely except when it was excited. Therefore, diazepam was discontinued. This case describes a refractory white dog shaker syndrome successfully managed with long-term administration of a steroid and diazepam.