An exploratory study into factors influencing development of acute canine polyradiculoneuritis in the UK

Abstract

To investigate whether the development of acute canine polyradiculoneuritis is associated with various putative risk factors. Retrospective case-control study with conditional logistic regression analysis from a referral hospital population in the UK where controls were matched for year of presentation. Forty-three cases were identified with acute canine polyradiculoneuritis and 86 controls were selected. Jack Russell terriers and West Highland white terriers were found to have a significantly greater odds of developing acute canine polyradiculoneuritis compared to a mixed baseline group of dogs. The odds of developing acute canine polyradiculoneuritis were greater in the autumn and winter compared to spring. Vaccination, rural/urban habitation, sex, neuter status and age were not associated with development of acute canine polyradiculoneuritis in our population of dogs. Breed and season were associated with development of acute canine polyradiculoneuritis. However, this is a small sample and so this observation needs confirmation in further studies and other factors may also be involved. Nevertheless, these findings may be important in further understanding the aetiopathogenesis of this condition.