VNJ Volume 40 (2) April 2025 | Page 45

Plus-Hex CLINICAL

Introduction

Polyradiculoneuritis is a neuromuscular disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system ( lower motor neurons , neuromuscular junction and / or muscle ), causing weakened , reduced or absent voluntary movement . Table 1 shows the clinical signs associated with disorders of the peripheral nervous system [ 1 ] .

Table 1 . Clinical signs associated with peripheral nerve conditions [ 1 ] .

Function Mental status Cranial nerves

Posture / gait

Postural reactions

Spinal reflexes

Muscle tone

Sensation

Other findings

Abnormalities Unaltered

Variable involvement , dependent on disease . CN VII , CN IX and CN X are commonly affected in generalised neuropathies

Flaccid paresis / paralysis of affected limb ( s )

Postural reaction deficits in affected limb ( s ) ( sensory )

Decreased to absent spinal reflexes in affected limb ( s )

Decreased to absent tone in affected limb ( s ) ( motor ); muscle atrophy in affected limb ( s ) ( motor )

Decreased to absent nociception and sensation ; paraesthesia

Self-mutilation

CN VII , facial nerve ; CN IX , glossopharyngeal nerve ; CN X , vagus nerve .

Patients with polyradiculoneuritis can be challenging to care for , but also extremely rewarding due to the intensity of care and rehabilitation required . It is important for veterinary nurses ( VNs ) to recognise all aspects of the care required , both physical and mental , to enable the best possible outcome for the patient .

Pathology

Polyradiculoneuritis is the most commonly seen peripheral neuropathy in dogs [ 2 ] . It particularly affects the nerve roots ( where the nerves exit the spinal cord ) ( Figure 1 ). It has been shown that the lumbosacral nerve roots are often more severely affected than the cervical or thoracic nerve roots , resulting in progressive ascending clinical signs advancing from the affected hindlimbs [ 1 ] .

Dogs with this disease are unable to perform normal voluntary motion or stand in a normal position . It is thought to be the canine equivalent of Guillain-Barré syndrome in humans [ 1 ] and is thought to occur due to an immune-mediated condition that is triggered by exposure to a stimulus ( although this stimulus is currently unknown ).

In general , dogs with polyradiculoneuritis have a good prognosis and will usually improve over 3 – 6 weeks . However , some cases have been reported to take up to 3 – 4 months to recover , and a small percentage of dogs will never fully recover and may have long-term neurological deficits [ 2 ] .

Affected dogs usually present with a short-striding gait that progresses over the course of 5 – 10 days to tetraparesis ( reduced movement in all four limbs ) or tetraplegia ( complete loss of movement in all

Figure 1 . The origin of the nerve roots and their position within the spinal cord segments of the cervicothoracic ( left ) and lumbosacral ( right ) areas [ 1 ] .

Volume 40 ( 2 ) • April 2025

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