Changes

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

A history of trauma and unrelenting muscular spasm in a localised area is often described in cases of tetanus. An obvious wound may help to increase suspicion of tetanus, particularly if the wound is necrotic or infected. An important clinical feature of tetanus in dogs is that of resolution of muscular spasm over a long period of time (weeks or months). In this species, diagnosis is often based on clinical judgement rather than laboratory tests, as these may add little diagnostic information. In occasional cases, ''C. tetani'' may be cultured from a wound, but this may be impossible if healing has occurred or the wound is not apparent.  

A history of trauma and unrelenting muscular spasm in a localised area is often described in cases of tetanus. An obvious wound may help to increase suspicion of tetanus, particularly if the wound is necrotic or infected. Other neurological diseases causing limb spaticity may need to excluded; myelography for example will rule out an extramedullary lesion as the cause of the clinical signs. A complete blood cell count, serum biochemistry, survey radiographs of the thoracic spine, and serology for protozoal diseases should also be performed in order to exclude other neurological differential diagnoses.

 

An important clinical feature of tetanus in dogs is that of resolution of muscular spasm over a long period of time (weeks or months). In this species, diagnosis is often based on clinical judgement rather than laboratory tests, as these may add little diagnostic information. In occasional cases, ''C. tetani'' may be cultured from a wound, but this may be impossible if healing has occurred or the wound is not apparent.  

 

==References==

==References==

* Matthews, B.R and Forbes, D.C. (1984) '''Tetanus in a Dog''' ''Canadian Veterinary Journal May; 26(5): 159–161''

* Matthews, B.R and Forbes, D.C. (1984) '''Tetanus in a Dog''' ''Canadian Veterinary Journal May; 26(5): 159–161''