The prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid characteristics in dogs without deep pain perception due to thoracolumbar disc herniation

•Providing pre-operative prognosis for dogs without deep pain perception is essential.•TNCC, MΦ % and MΦ:M were significantly higher in dogs that failed to regain DPP.•TNCC, MΦ % and MΦ:M were significantly higher in dogs failing to regain ambulation.•MΦ:M ≥ 0.73 matched to sensitivity of 54% and specificity of 100% for negative outcome.•CSF cytology may predict the return of DPP and long-term outcome.

Providing a pre-operative prognosis for dogs presented with absent deep pain perception (DPP) is extremely challenging, as the overall recovery rates widely vary. This study assesses the possible correlation between the severity of spinal cord injury and CSF cytology in 31 paraplegic dogs presented with absent DPP due to acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (TL-IVDH). All dogs underwent surgical decompression immediately following diagnosis. CSF TNCC, macrophage percentage and macrophage to monocyte (MΦ:M) ratio were significantly higher in dogs that failed to regain DPP within 10 days post-operatively and in dogs that failed to regain ambulation at the end of the study period (P < 0.05). MΦ:M of 0.73 and higher corresponded to a sensitivity of 54% and specificity of 100% for prediction of a negative long-term outcome. CSF TNCC, macrophage percentage and MΦ:M ratio effectively predicted regaining DPP and the long-term outcome in dogs that lost DPP due to acute TL-IVDH.