Dysautonomia in 53 cats and dogs: retrospective review of clinical data and outcome

BackgroundDysautonomia is a disease characterised by degeneration of autonomic neurons.MethodsThe aim of this study was to perform a retrospective multicentre review of clinical data relating to cats and dogs diagnosed with dysautonomia and to evaluate their outcome.ResultsCats (n=34) and dogs (n=19...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary record 2020-12, Vol.187 (12), p.e118-e118
Main Authors: Clarke, Katherine Elizabeth, Sorrell, Stephanie, Breheny, Craig, Jepson, Rosanne, Adamantos, Sophie, Milne, Elspeth M, Gunn-moore, Danielle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Anorexia
autonomic nervous system
canine
Cardiac arrhythmia
Constipation
Diarrhea
Dogs
feline
Females
Households
Medical records
mydriasis
neuronal degeneration
Ostomy
pupillary light response
Signs
Urogenital system
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary services
Vomiting
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Summary:BackgroundDysautonomia is a disease characterised by degeneration of autonomic neurons.MethodsThe aim of this study was to perform a retrospective multicentre review of clinical data relating to cats and dogs diagnosed with dysautonomia and to evaluate their outcome.ResultsCats (n=34) and dogs (n=19) with clinical signs consistent with dysautonomia were considered for this retrospective study. Reported clinical findings included oesophageal and gastrointestinal dysmotility and distension, urinary retention, reduced or absent tear production, third eyelid protrusion and inappropriate mydriasis. Treatment was supportive and included gastrointestinal prokinetics, feeding tube placement (oesophageal and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes) and medications to treat urinary retention. The survival to discharge was 29 per cent in cats and 47 per cent in dogs. The overall survival in cats was 21 per cent and that in dogs was 32 per cent. Survival of greater than 2 years was seen in six cats and in three dogs.ConclusionThis paper illustrates that some animals are able to survive this disease and can have a good long-term prognosis, which is an infrequently reported finding for this disease.
ISSN:0042-4900
2042-7670
DOI:10.1136/vr.105258