Neuro-exams can be very helpful

A nice six-year-old Labrador with a history of possible trauma, complete forelimb muscle atrophy and proprioceptive deficits was brought to see me.

Radial paralysis was high up on the list of differentials, but the poor chap had not shown any response to conservative management.

I noticed it had mild anisocoria, slight ptosis and third eyelid prolapse, indicating the less obvious Horner’s syndrome. A bell rang in my mind of a case I recalled seeing as a student – it revealed itself to be indicative of a brachial plexus injury/tumour.

Sadly, an MRI scan at Davies Veterinary Specialists confirmed the presence of a tumour.

Very sad.