Tumours of the brain, spinal cord and vertebrae are a leading cause of progressive neurological disease in older dogs. Intracranial tumours are found in about 2–4.5% of dogs examined after death (Miller 2019; Song 2013), and gliomas occur in dogs at a frequency similar to that in people (Truvé 2016). For the NAVLE, the job is to localise the lesion, use signalment to rank the likely tumour types, and know what imaging, treatment and prognosis look like for each.
Key facts
Neoplasia (brain, spinal cord or vertebrae) at a glance- Species and system: dog; nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerve roots) and vertebral column.
- Main primary brain tumours: meningioma (about 50%), glioma (about 35%), choroid plexus tumour (about 7%) (Miller 2019). Secondary (metastatic or invading) tumours account for about half of all intracranial tumours.
- Breed clues: brachycephalic breeds such as Boxer, Boston Terrier and bulldogs for glioma; large, often dolichocephalic dogs (Golden Retriever most reported) for meningioma (Merck).
- Classic presentation: a dog over 5 years with new-onset seizures or a slowly progressive, often asymmetric forebrain, brainstem or spinal cord syndrome.
- Diagnosis: MRI for a presumptive diagnosis; biopsy or histopathology for a definitive one; stage with thoracic and abdominal imaging.
- Spine: extradural tumours (mainly vertebral bone tumours and metastases) are the most common.
- Not zoonotic and not reportable.
What's inside
11 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 7 tables, 3 figures, 3 self-test questions and 18 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.