Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) was diagnosed in four related male English Cocker Spaniels (ECS) between the ages of 3 and 4 years. All affected dogs were born to clinically unaffected parents that had tested negative for known PRA-causing variants through commercial vendors. Pedigree analysis revealed that the mothers of the affected dogs were paternal half-siblings, and their father had been reported as visually impaired, suggesting an X-linked recessive mode of inheritance. To identify the underlying genetic cause, we performed homozygosity mapping, identifying six candidate regions, and whole-genome sequencing. A single high-impact coding variant—a 1-bp deletion in exon 36 of the CACNA1F gene on X chromosome (UU_Cfam_GSD_1.0 NC_049260.1 g.42,516,353del) —was identified. This variant is predicted to cause a frameshift and premature stop codon (XM_038587436.1, c.4,481del, XP_038443364.1:Phe1482LeufsTer8) and was found in a hemizygous state in all affected males and heterozygous in their mothers, while being absent in fathers as well as unaffected control dogs. A specifically designed PCR test was developed and applied to a broader cohort of 92 related and unrelated ECS dogs, confirming the segregation of this variant. This study identified a novel segregating CACNA1F variant, likely to be responsible for an X-linked recessive form of PRA in the ECS. Given that CACNA1F is already associated with retinal disorders in other mammals, including humans, this finding adds to its relevance across species. This study highlights the importance for breeders of regular health examinations for late-onset conditions and prompt reporting of hereditary disorders of unknown cause to enable rapid identification of their genetic basis. Development and implementation of specific genetic screening tests are recommended to assess the frequency of this variant in ECS and other populations, inform breeding strategies, and prevent further dissemination of this deleterious variant.

Designer-crossbreed dogs (deliberate cross-breeding between two or more pure breeds) are exploding in popularity, often driven by beliefs that they commonly exhibit desirable behaviours such as being easy to train or being good with children, despite minimal supporting evidence. This study aimed to fill this gap by comparing Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) scores between the three most common designer-crossbreeds in the UK and their relevant progenitor breeds. C-BARQ behaviour data for all 12 sub-scales were collected in March 2023 via an online questionnaire of owners of Cockapoo, Labradoodle, Cavapoo, Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle dogs acquired aged ≤16 weeks from 1st January 2019. C-BARQ scores were analysed using multivariable linear modelling. Valid responses were received representing 9,402 dogs. From 72 behavioural comparisons overall (3 designer-crossbreeds x 2 progenitors x 12 C-BARQ scales), designer-crossbreeds overall exhibited more undesirable behaviours than a progenitor breed in 44.4% comparisons and fewer undesirable behaviours in 9.7% comparisons, with no differences detected for the remaining 45.8%. Cockapoos displayed the most undesirable behaviours of the three designer crossbreeds, and differed from Cocker Spaniels and Poodles in 16/24 comparisons, scoring worse for all 16. Cavapoos differed from Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Poodles in 12/24 comparisons, scoring worse in 11. In contrast, Labradoodles differed from Labrador Retrievers and Poodles in 11/24 comparisons, scoring worse than their progenitors in five behaviours, but better in six. These findings suggest notable behavioural differences between designer-crossbreeds versus their progenitor breeds, with Cockapoos and Cavapoos in particular scoring worse. Wider awareness by prospective owners of these potential issues around undesirable behavioural traits could avoid misbelief-driven acquisitions (e.g., designer-crossbreeds require minimal training, or are particularly suited to households with children) that risk public health (e.g., elevated dog bite risks) and relinquishment due to unmet expectations.

To identify risk factors associated with periodontal disease in pet dogs, based on detailed owner-reported demographic, health and behaviour survey data. A total of 12,753 pet owners completed a one-time questionnaire that included questions concerning their pet's demographics and health. Overall periodontal disease prevalence was 50.5% (95% CI 0.50 to 0.51). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age, breed characteristics, oral diagnoses, symptoms and oral care habits as key risk factors for periodontal disease. Age was strongly associated with periodontal disease, with dogs aged ≥8 years at highest risk (OR = 1.37 to 2.43) and those under 4 years at lowest risk (OR = 0.30 to 0.64). Several breeds were at significantly increased risk, including American cocker spaniels (OR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.63 to 4.00, P < .001) and Papillons (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.56 to 3.65), while English Bulldogs exhibited the lowest odds of periodontal disease (OR = 0.12, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.20). Symptoms such as halitosis (OR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.75 to 2.34) and resistance to head touch (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.15) were associated with significantly increased periodontal disease odds. These findings highlight important risk factors associated with periodontal disease that may contribute to earlier identification and prevention.

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is an X-linked hypomyelinating disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the proteolipid protein (PLP1) gene. We report a spontaneous canine dysmyelinating leukodystrophy in English Cocker Spaniel puppies. The most severely affected male pup displayed pronounced generalized tremors, progressive motor dysfunction, and markedly impaired growth. Histopathology at 5 wk of age revealed profound central nervous system (CNS) dysmyelination with no evidence of peripheral nerve involvement. Western blotting confirmed markedly reduced expression of CNS myelin-associated proteins. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated a near absence of compact myelin, rare myelinated axons, and significant oligodendrocyte abnormalities, the majority of which had an immature cellular morphology. More mature, yet infrequent oligodendrocytes had distended rough endoplasmic reticula. Nucleotide sequence analysis identified a hemizygous c.92T>A missense variant in the PLP1 gene predicted to cause a leucine-to-glutamine substitution in the first transmembrane domain, p.(L31Q). This variant was absent in over 1,600 public canine genomes and was predicted to be deleterious by multiple bioinformatic tools. Heterozygous females exhibited variable, transient clinical signs. We compared this canine leukodystrophy with the previously reported shaking pup and found that it represents a more severe phenotype recapitulating key clinical, pathological, and molecular features of severe connatal PMD in humans, including extreme CNS dysmyelination and associated neurological deficits. Interestingly, this genetic variant seems to cause a defect at the oligodendrocyte progenitor stage limiting subsequent oligodendrocyte maturation and preventing myelination. The identification of this naturally occurring model provides a potential resource for investigating the mechanisms and therapeutic targets for specific PLP1 genetic variants.

Limited data exist on intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) prevalence and risk factors in English cocker spaniels. IVDD risk factors and prevalence vary between breeds and within sub-populations. Two thousand six hundred fifty-four English cocker spaniels. An online survey investigating prevalence and factors associated with IVDD was distributed via the UK Kennel Club to registered English cocker spaniel owners (November 14, 2022 to February 2, 2023). Prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated (Wilson score interval). Descriptive statistics were applied to demographic, exercise, and diet variables. Univariable associations were explored using unadjusted odds ratios with 95% CI (Wald method). Overall IVDD prevalence was 5.73% (95% CI, 4.82-6.62) and was greater in the show [8.99% (95% CI, 7.30-11.03)] than the working [3.44% (95% CI, 2.61-4.49)] dogs. Dogs in the show group were taller relative to their length compared to those in the working group. The lumbar region accounted for 53.02% (n=79) cases, with an onset time most frequently of less than one day (40.14%, n=59). Males were at greater odds of IVDD in our study compared to females (OR:14.39, 95% CI, 7.30-28.36), with neutered males or females at greater odds compared to the entire dogs (OR:7.9, 95% CI, 4.25-14.67). IVDD is common in English cocker spaniels, with a higher prevalence in the show dogs.

To evaluate the clinical use of preoperative computed tomography (CT) planning and a novel aiming guide to place humeral transcondylar screws in dogs with humeral intracondylar fissures. Measurements from preoperative CT scans were used to identify entry and exit points of the screw. These points were identified at surgery using anatomical landmarks and measurements from articular surfaces. An aiming device was used to place transcondylar positional locking screws from medial to lateral. Assessment of position within the humeral condyle was made from postoperative orthogonal radiographs. Clinical records were reviewed and short-term postoperative complications recorded. Forty-five locking screws were placed in the elbows of 32 dogs. Seven different breeds of differing sizes were included, predominantly English springer and cocker spaniels. Screws placed were either 5.0-mm or 2.7-mm locking screws. All screws were placed within the humeral condyle and no screws required repositioning. No intraoperative complications were encountered. Short-term postoperative complications were recorded in three elbows (1 minor, 2 major medical and 0 major surgical). This technique offers a safe, reliable and repeatable minimally invasive technique to place transcondylar locking screws in dogs with humeral intracondylar fissure. A wide variety of breeds and sizes of dogs show the technique to be versatile.

The prevalence of ophthalmological and dental pathology in dogs and cats was determined by analyzing statistical data obtained from veterinary clinics in the city of Dnipro. The most common ophthalmological diseases were conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and keratitis. Corneal ulcers and injuries to the eye and auxiliary apparatus were recorded more often in cats than in dogs, and among oncological diseases, lymphoma of the eye. Cataracts and prolapse of the third eyelid were diagnosed more frequently in dogs. Papillomatous lesions of the oral cavity were recorded only in young dogs. Male individuals were more often affected, and ophthalmological pathology was observed in mestizos and the following breeds: cocker spaniel, poodle, dachshund, shar pei, german shepherd, and labrador. Corneal lesions were often found in brachycephalic dogs. In cats, ophthalmological diseases were mainly diagnosed in mongrels and animals of scottish, persian, british breeds and sphinxes. Of the oncological diseases, eye lymphoma is significantly prevalent in animals, which was recorded with a higher frequency in cats. A significant prevalence of oral diseases in dogs and cats has been confirmed. Of the dental problems, periodontitis, tartar, malocclusion and gingivostomatitis were more frequently diagnosed. In dogs, malocclusion and tumors of the oral cavity were recorded with a higher frequency, and in cats, gingivostomatitis and injuries and fractures of the jaws. Periodontal disease and tartar are the most common dental problems in animals of both species. A predisposition to both ophthalmological and dental pathology is noted in brachycephalics. The conducted statistical analysis provides additional information about the prevalence of ophthalmological and dental pathology in dogs and cats, and the obtained research results may be useful for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these diseases.

In veterinary transfusion medicine, correct identification of blood group of dogs is critical to prevent immunological compl i cations. The most clinically significant antigen is DEA 1 ( dog erythrocyte an tigen 1), which can cause sensitization and deve l opment of acute hemolytic reaction in recipients of repeated transfusion of incompatible blood. Taking into account the impo r tance of local mapping of the distribution of blood groups, the objective of this study was determining the distribution of the DEA 1 blood group in dogs of different breeds in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, emphasizing the analysis of breed variability and clinical significance of the results for veterinary practice. In the study, we used 493 blood samples from dogs whose owners contacted the clinic or the bank of animal blood during the period between 2018 and 2024. Blood group was identified using the immunoc h romatographic method with RapidVet-H Canine DEA 1 kits. All the samples were tested for the presence of DEA 1 antigen with the subsequent distribution according to breeds, calculation of the percentage ratio of DEA 1+ and DEA 1-, and also the statistical analysis with the χ² criterion in relation to the null hypothesis of even distribution (50/50). In general, 55.4% of the animals turned out to be DEA 1-positive, while 44.6% were found to be DEA 1-negative. We determined a significant variability in the distrib u tion of blood groups depending on the breed. The largest share of DEA 1+ was observed in the English Cocker Spaniels, Pom e ranian Dogs, and American Cocker Spaniels, while the DEA 1- blood group dominated in the German Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds, and Giant Schnauzers. The obtained results indicate a possible genetic tendency of certain breeds toward a particular blood type. The results are consistent with similar studies in other countries and can be used for designing effective programs of selecting donors in veterinary transfusion medicine. A special attention should be paid to the limited number of DEA 1- donors, which underscores the importance of pre-typing of blood before each transfusion. The study is the first large-scale analysis of the distribution of DEA 1 in dogs in Ukraine and therefore is of practical significance for the development o f clinical veterinary medicine.

Tail injuries in dogs can severely impact welfare and pose clinical challenges. This study aimed to describe the annual incidence and clinical management of tail injury in UK dogs under primary care and identify risk factors. A nested case‒control design was used within a cohort of dogs under primary care in the UK in 2019. Clinical records were automatically searched and manually verified to identify incident tail injury cases and extract management data. Multivariable logistic regression was then used to evaluate associations between potential risk factors and tail injury diagnosis. The analysis included 285 tail injury cases and 285,000 randomly selected controls. The estimated annual incidence risk for tail injury was 0.23%. Increased odds of injury were observed in boxers, English springer spaniels and cocker spaniels; dogs aged less than 2 years; male entire, male neutered and female neutered dogs; working and gundog breeds; and dogs weighing between 20 and 30kg. Systemic analgesia and antibiosis were prescribed in 45.6% and 32.6% of cases, respectively. Surgical amputation was undertaken in 9.1% of cases. This study relied on retrospective electronic health record data. Only factors consistently recorded in clinical records were available. Tail injury is relatively uncommon but carries serious welfare risks. Identifying high-risk groups offers valuable insights for veterinarians, breeders and policymakers.

Third-degree atrioventricular block associated with suspected arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in a three-year-old Cocker spaniel.

Breed predispositions and malignancy analysis for canine tumors: A multicenter histopathological retrospective study from Central Italy.

A twelve-year-old female Cocker Spaniel was presented for a clinical examination at a private veterinary clinic with an abnormal mass protruding from the external genitalia. According to the medical history, the pathologically altered tissue had shown accelerated growth, and in the last few days, the animal had begun to exhibit difficulty urinating. During vaginal examination, a well-defined, round mass with a firm-elastic consistency was found. Preoperative paraclinical examinations, including hematological and biochemical blood parameters, radiography, and ultrasonography, were performed. Surgical removal of the mass, along with ovariohysterectomy, was performed. The animal had a trouble-free recovery in the postoperative period. At a follow-up examination conducted a few months later, no recurrences of the tumor or metastases were found. Based on histopathological and immunohistochemical examination, a diagnosis of vaginal fibroma was confirmed.

The article describes the prevalence and diagnosis of external otitis in dogs. It is noted that according to the results of previous studies and taking into account laboratory diagnostics, in 2024, 35 animals were diagnosed with “otitis” in the “Divet” clinic, which, as a percentage of the sick dogs registered in the outpatient journal, was 8.5 %. By breed, the most frequently affected dogs with ear pathology were German shepherds and Labradors (20 %), pugs (11.4 %), East European shepherds (14.3 %), bulldogs (11.4 %), spaniels (8.6 %), as well as 1–2 dogs of the Cocker Spaniel and Pekingese breeds. In terms of age, dogs under 5 years were most often affected by acute and chronic forms of otitis. It was found that the incidence of animals was manifested in all seasons; however, the most significant number of otitis was registered in the winter period (40 %). 9 dogs had acute ear pathology, and 26 had chronic form. The main clinical signs characteristic of most sick animals were tilting and shaking of the head, pain during examination of the auricle, erythema of the skin of the ears, and the release of inflammatory exudate of various amounts and nature. The body temperature of animals with ear pathology depended on the course: in the acute form it fluctuated within 39.6–40 ºС, and in the chronic form – 38–39 ºС. In chronic otitis, 7 dogs (20 %) were diagnosed with unilateral inflammation of the periauricular lymph nodes, and in 3 (8.6 %), an increase in the cervical lymph nodes. In every 2nd sick dog, keratosis of the auricle was noted during clinical examination, and in a third, maceration. It was found that, against the background of the development of otitis media in dogs, the blood picture was determined by the nature of the pathology. The content of leukocytes in animals with acute inflammation of the external ear was 39.6 % higher than in clinically healthy animals (P &lt; 0.05). In the chronic course of the pathological process, the deviations of the studied indicator were 22.2 % (P &lt; 0.05). The percentage of segmental-nuclear neutrophils in the blood of dogs with acute and chronic otitis media was, compared with the control, higher by 17.5 (P &lt; 0.05) and 12.5 % (P &lt; 0.05), respectively. The number of lymphocytes, on the contrary, was lower by 32.2 (P &lt; 0.05) and 25.9 % (P &lt; 0.05), respectively. The total protein content in dogs' blood serum with acute and chronic course of ear pathology significantly (P &lt; 0.05) decreased. Characteristic was the increase in α-globulins in the blood, which we established by 18.1 % (P &lt; 0.05). The activity of ALT in the blood serum of dogs with acute otitis was 84.6 %, and with chronic otitis, 2 times higher than the control indicator. At the same time, the dynamics of AST activity were even more pronounced: a similar indicator in clinically healthy dogs was 2.3 and 2.5 times lower (P &lt; 0.01). According to the assessment of the immune status of dogs, against the background of the development of otitis, suppression of indicators of nonspecific immunity, humoral and cellular immunity was established.

Understanding the physiological and biophysical characteristics of skin provides information for developing appropriate management strategies for skin diseases. However, in dogs, variations in skin biophysical parameters, such as age, sex and breed, remain poorly understood. This study analysed three biophysical characteristics of healthy dog skin (hydration, pH and sebum content) and investigated the effects of sex, age and breed. One hundred forty-nine dogs without skin problems were enrolled. Skin hydration, pH and sebum content were measured using a multifunctional skin physiology monitor. The dogs were divided into four age groups: <1 year, 1-6 years, 7-12 years and >13 years. Skin hydration levels were significantly lower in the >13 years group than in the 1-6 years and 7-12 groups. Additionally, skin pH levels in the >13 years group were significantly lower than in the 7-12 group. Furthermore, skin biophysical parameters among the five breed groups - beagles (n = 37), Malteses (n = 18), miniature poodles (n = 24), cocker spaniels (n = 11) and Pomeranians (n = 12) - revealed that skin hydration and pH were significantly higher in beagles than those of Malteses and miniature poodles. These findings indicate that biophysical properties, including skin hydration and pH, vary with age and breed. This study provides fundamental data on the effects of age, sex and breed on the biophysical characteristics of dog skin.

A 2.5 years old male English Cocker Spaniel dog was admitted to our clinic with symptoms of left axis circling, increased vocalization and vestibular ataxia. The patient's medical history revealed that the left hind limb was amputated due to a malignant tumor and the tumor type was confirmed as hemangiosarcoma by pathology report. As a result of physical, neurological and radiographic examinations, intracranial tumor metastasis of primary origin in the left hind limb was suspected. No abnormal findings were found in the cerebrospinal fluid obtained from the patient. Advanced imaging techniques (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) and biopsy procedures required for treatment planning were refused by the owner and the patient died 4 days later. Macroscopic necropsy findings revealed mass foci of varying sizes in the brain, spleen, liver, diaphragm and lung. Histopathologic examination revealed hemangiosarcoma metastasis of 0.2.x0.1 cm in the brain. The post-mortem findings were consistent with the clinical findings. Brain metastasis of hemangiosarcoma in a cocker spaniel dog shows that our case is rare.

To determine factors that may affect the onset of glaucoma in the unaffected, contralateral eye of dogs with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). One hundred and seventeen dogs unilaterally affected by PACG. Multicenter retrospective study. Patient factors, examination findings, prophylactic treatments, and treatment failure dates were recorded. Treatment failure was defined as glaucoma onset in the contralateral eye (IOP > 25 mmHg); death prior to a second diagnosis was treated as a competing risk. Cumulative incidence plots and Cox proportional hazard models were used to visualize and test for associations between baseline characteristics and time to treatment failure. Mean age at first diagnosis was 8.3 years and 69.2% were female. Within 5 years, 70.9% of dogs with unilateral PACG developed glaucoma in the contralateral eye. Median time to treatment failure was 2.15 years. The most common purebred dogs were the Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, and Shih Tzu. Dogs with an initial diagnosis in the left eye had a 1.8-fold increased risk of treatment failure of the right eye. Time to treatment failure was not different between dogs receiving prophylactic topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors versus beta-blockers, nor in dogs receiving versus not receiving topical corticosteroids. No treatment regimen was found to be superior to another for PACG prophylaxis. Future prospective studies are warranted to investigate complementary glaucoma management strategies.

Abstract A 6‐year‐old, male, neutered cocker spaniel was presented for further workup of a pericardial effusion with associated cardiac tamponade and ascites. Cytological examination of the pericardial effusion noted the presence of what appeared to be bilirubin crystals. Evaluation of the pericardial fluid by a clinical pathologist identified the crystals to be haematoidin crystals. This case report describes the finding of haematoidin crystals in pericardial effusion, which may potentially be used as an indicator for the chronicity of a pericardial effusion.

Pelger-Huët anomaly (PHA) is a benign congenital hematological disorder first observed in humans and occasionally reported in dogs. It has been mainly described in Australian Shepherd Dog (ASD) with a prevalence of 9.8–13% where, based on a genetic study, it was recently renamed hyposegmentation of granulocytes (HG). Prevalences in other canine breeds have not been documented. This study aims to: (1) estimate the prevalence of HG/PHA across various breeds, (2) quantify the uncertainty of the estimated values using a Bayesian approach, and (3) identify affected breeds not previously documented. This cross-sectional study was based on the CBC database of the San Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory (Padua, Italy) from 2001 to 2024. Data were collected from dogs diagnosed with HG/PHA and breeds previously reported as affected. To handle limited data and provide reliable estimates, Bayesian analysis was performed to estimate the prevalence of the anomaly and its uncertainty, using posterior probabilities from an informative prior model. The analysis adhered to the Bayesian Analysis Reporting Guidelines (BARG). The study included 5,716 dogs: German Shepherd (GS, 40%), Dachshund (DA, 22.6%), Cocker Spaniel (CS, 17.3%), Border Collie (BC, 9.5%), ASD (5.9%), Samoyed (SA, 2.2%), Boston Terrier (BT, 1.6%), Australian Cattle Dog (ACD, 0.7%) and Basenji (BA, 0.2%). Overall, HG/PHA was found in 0.45% dogs, specifically in ASD (7.1%), SA (0.8%) and DA (0.08%) and not in the other breeds. The prevalence estimates were 6.47% in ASD with 95% Credible Interval (95% CrI) from 4.22 to 9.18%, 0.32% (95% CrI: 0.04, 1.11%) in SA, 0.2% (95% CrI: 0.02, 0.86%) in BA, 0.18% (95% CrI: 0.02, 0.77%) in ACD, 0.16% (95% CrI: 0.02, 0.64%) in BT, 0.11% (95% CrI: 0.02, 0.30%) in DA, 0.10% (95% CrI: 0.01, 0.34%) in BC, 0.08% (95% CrI: 0.01, 0.25%) in CS, 0.05% (95% CrI: 0.01, 0.15%) in GS. HG/PHA was newly identified in DA. This study, using laboratory data collected over two decades and analyzed with Bayesian methods, could be considered representative of the prevalence of HG/PHA in multiple canine breeds. It is the first study to estimate the prevalence of HG/PHA beyond ASD, highlighting breed-specific differences in a real-world setting.

ABSTRACT Case history Two dogs, a 10-year-old male Siberian Husky cross and an 11-year-old male Cocker Spaniel were referred to a specialist veterinary hospital in Melbourne, Australia, for treatment of metastatic anal sac apocrine gland adenocarcinoma (ASAGAC) and concurrent hypercalcaemia (concentration of ionised calcium in serum > 1.5 mmol/L) of malignancy. Clinical findings Case 1 had a left anal sac mass approximately 5.5 cm in diameter, enlarged sub-lumbar lymph nodes palpable on rectal examination and a concentration of ionised calcium in serum of 2.45 (reference range 1.2–1.32) mmol/L. Soft tissue opacities suspicious for metastatic pulmonary nodules were observed on thoracic radiographs. CT of Case 2 revealed bilateral anal gland masses (left: 4.7 × 3.2 cm; right: 2.8 × 2.1 cm) and a large, ill-defined, intrapelvic mass (7.0 × 6.0 cm) encompassing the medial iliac and internal iliac lymph nodes and intimately associated with the aortic blood vessels. Cytology of fine-needle aspirates of the anal gland masses of both dogs was consistent with ASAGAC. The owners of both dogs declined surgical intervention and medical management with toceranib phosphate was initiated in the gross disease setting. Treatment and outcome Toceranib was initially administered at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg orally every other day in both dogs. Due to side effects from this medication, including hypocalcaemia, the dosing schedule was adjusted to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with a dose range of 2.25–2.5 mg/kg. Both dogs remained alive, Case 1 after 519 days and Case 2 after 477 days, and were normocalcaemic at the time of writing. Both dogs experienced resolution of hypercalcaemia of malignancy while being treated with toceranib alone: hypercalcaemia was controlled for a total of 12 months in Case 1 and 15 months in Case 2. During treatment the anal sac mass of Case 1 remained approximately 5 cm in diameter and the sub-lumbar lymph node remained subjectively stable though no objective measurements were taken. Case 2’s anal sac masses and intrapelvic lymph node mass subjectively reduced in size based on palpation. Clinical relevance This case series highlights two instances where toceranib monotherapy effectively managed hypercalcaemia of malignancy secondary to metastatic ASAGAC. Despite the presence of extensive macroscopic neoplastic disease, both dogs achieved durable control of hypercalcaemia with toceranib treatment. Abbreviations: ASAGAC: Anal sac apocrine gland adenocarcinoma; cRECIST: Canine response evaluation criteria in solid tumours; HHM: Humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy; OST: Overall survival time; PFS: Progression-free survival; PTH: Parathyroid hormone; PTHrP: Parathyroid-related hormone peptide; RTK: Receptor tyrosine kinase; TKI: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor

the peripheral nervous system, causing weakened, reduced or absent voluntary movement. Dogs with polyradiculoneuritis are unable to perform normal voluntary motion or stand in a normal position. They usually present with a short-striding gait that progresses over the course of 5–10 days to tetraparesis or tetraplegia.As patients with this condition may be susceptible to secondary complications, it can be challenging to care for them, but it can also be highly rewarding. This article describes the clinical signs of polyradiculoneuritis and outlines the nursing care considerations specific to these cases. It also discusses the veterinary nurse's vital role in the care of patients with polyradiculoneuritis. The case study evaluates the nursing care of an 8-year old female cocker spaniel, which presented with a 2-day history of acute-onset, rapidly progressive (2 hours), symmetrical, non-painful, non-ambulatory tetraparesis. While hospitalised, the dog developed aspiration pneumonia, which is commonly seen in patients with lower motor neuron conditions such as polyradiculoneuritis. The study outlines the treatment, physiotherapy and nursing care provided in this case – including nutrition, hygiene, mental stimulation and rehabilitation, as well as addressing comorbidities such as aspiration. The dog recovered well following an intense nursing programme and has returned to full ambulatory status.