Polyradiculoneuritis (Coonhound Paralysis)
What’s polyradiculoneuritis?
Polyradiculoneuritis is inflammation of the nerves and the nerve roots that attach to the spinal cord, along with the nerve sheaths. This condition is similar to Guillain-Barré syndrome in people.
The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but it’s often associated with being scratched or bitten by a raccoon. That said, not all dogs with polyradiculoneuritis (coonhound paralysis) have known raccoon exposure.
This inflammation may cause paralysis, often affecting all four limbs. Signs usually develop quickly over a few days, but they may continue to progress for up to two weeks.
How veterinarians diagnose polyradiculoneuritis
There’s no single specific test for polyradiculoneuritis. Veterinary teams often make the diagnosis based on history, such as possible raccoon exposure, and the symptoms your dog is showing.
Because other conditions can also cause nerve inflammation, your pet’s veterinary team may recommend testing to look for other causes, such as infections or cancer. Additional tests, including a spinal tap, electrodiagnostics, and nerve biopsies, may also be recommended.
polyradiculoneuritis Treatment
If your veterinary team catches polyradiculoneuritis within the first few weeks of exposure, they may recommend an infusion of immunoglobulin. This is known to significantly shorten the duration of Guillain-Barré syndrome in people, and it’s shown promising results in dogs as well. This treatment may be expensive and cost-prohibitive for some pet parents, however
Time is the key to recovery. With appropriate nursing care, most dogs recover. If your dog can’t move independently, Remedy’s recumbent pet care guide walks you through how to support your pet’s comfort and safety at home.
Severely affected dogs may need advanced care, such as placement on a ventilator. Physical therapy is also recommended for dogs with polyradiculoneuritis as their strength returns.
polyradiculoneuritis Treatment
If your veterinary team catches polyradiculoneuritis within the first few weeks of exposure, they may recommend an infusion of immunoglobulin. This is known to significantly shorten the duration of Guillain-Barré syndrome in people, and it’s shown promising results in dogs as well. This treatment may be expensive and cost-prohibitive for some pet parents, however
Time is the key to recovery. With appropriate nursing care, most dogs recover. If your dog can’t move independently, Remedy’s recumbent pet care guide walks you through how to support your pet’s comfort and safety at home.
Severely affected dogs may need advanced care, such as placement on a ventilator.
Physical therapy is recommended for dogs with polyradiculoneuritis.
polyradiculoneuritis Prognosis
Fortunately, most dogs recover from polyradiculoneuritis. Nursing care may be intense, and recovery may take several months. Nerves take time to heal, and there’s unfortunately little that speeds that process along.
Monitoring & when to contact the Remedy Neurology team
Contact the Remedy Neurology team if you notice:
Signs of pain (link to pain scoring sheet)
Difficult breathing
Check your dog’s skin health daily. Pressure sores can become dangerous if not caught early.
Also watch for signs of pneumonia, including difficulty breathing, coughing, lethargy, and fever.
