Objective
Morphometric analysis of facial anatomy and dysmorphia in CM‐associated pain (CM‐P) and syringomyelia (SM) in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS).
Animals
Sixty-six client-owned CKCS
Methods
Retrospective study of anonymized T2W sagittal magnetic resonance imaging of 3 clinical groups: (1) 11 without central canal dilation (ccd) or SM (CM‐N), (2) 15 with CM‐P with no SM or
Results
Sixteen of 28 measured variables were associated to SM‐S compared to CM‐N and CM‐P. Of these 6 were common to both groups. Predictive variables determined by discriminant analysis were (1) the ratio of cranial height with cranial length (P
Conclusion
CKCS with CM‐P and SM‐S have cranial brachycephaly with osseous insufficiency in the skull with rostral flattening and increased proximity of the hard and soft palate to the cranial base. Changes are greatest with CM‐P. These findings have relevance for understanding disease pathogenesis and for selection of head conformation for breeding purposes.
