Use of PCSO-524® (Antinol®) and Casting for Treatment of Tetraparesis and Neck Pain Due to Atlantoaxial Instability and Subluxation of the 1st-2nd Cervical Vertebrae

Abstract 

A 7 months old male Pomeranian dog was admitted to Thong Lor animal hospital  for signs of intermittent leg paresis and hyperesthesia during the past 2 weeks.  

Physical examination found grade II tetraparesis, neck hyperflexion, spasm of  cervical muscle, and cervical hyperesthesia. 

X-ray examination showed atlantoaxial  instability and dorsal subluxation of the first  and second cervical vertebrae. The disease is  congenital and commonly found in toy breed  dogs (Itoh H. et al, 2017).  

A cast was used to stabilize the joints  for 12 weeks in conjunction with medicinal  treatment including pain killer medicine,  gabapentin, and 1 capsule of PSCO-524® (Antinol®) sid.  

After one week of the treatment, the  dog showed no sign of pain when touched but  the signs of hind limb paresis still remained.  The treatment was continued until the 10th  week that gabapentin was terminated and no  recurrence of pain was detected since then.  

After 12 weeks of the treatment, the cast  was removed and PSCO-524® (Antinol®) 1  capsule sid was continued and the dog did not  show any progressive development of clinical signs.

Keywords: Atlantoaxial instability, dog, small breed, PSCO-524®, Antinol®, tetraparesis, hyperesthesia, congenital, dorsal subluxation