Treatment of dogs with acute canine
polyradiculoneuritis (ACP) is restricted to physical rehabilitation and supportive care. In humans with
Guillain-Barré syndrome, the counterpart of ACP, randomized trials show that
IV immunoglobulin (
IVIg) speeds recovery. The authors of the current study hypothesized that dogs with ACP would tolerate
IVIg well and recover faster than dogs managed with supportive treatment only. Sixteen client-owned dogs with ACP were treated with
IVIg, and 14 client-owned dogs served as a retrospective control group. Diagnosis was confirmed using clinical features, electrodiagnostics, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and muscle/nerve biopsies. The duration of the initial progressive phase, the time from
IVIg administration until the dogs were ambulating without assistance, and the duration of the complete episode were evaluated. Adverse reactions (
anaphylaxis, mild
hematuria) were observed in two dogs. Dogs treated with
IVIg were ambulating without assistance after a median of 27.5 days (range, 15-127 days) from onset of clinical signs. The control group was ambulatory without assistance at a median of 75.5 days (range, 5-220 days). Even though this result is not statistically significant, there is a clear trend toward faster recovery in dogs treated with
IVIg.