FC‐7 Acral mutilation and analgesia due to hereditary sensory neuropathy in 13 French spaniels

The purpose of this study was to describe a new hereditary sensory neuropathy in French spaniels resulting in analgesia and progressive mutilation of the distal extremities. Thirteen French spaniels (six females, seven males) from five different litters with acral mutilation were identified. Clinical signs were first noted between 3.5 and 12 months of age and typically consisted of sudden excessive and intense licking and biting of toes and/or footpads of one or several feet. This generally progressed rapidly into swollen digits, paronychia, footpad ulceration, and occasionally fracture and osteomyelitis. If the affected dogs were unrestrained, auto‐amputation of claws, toes and footpads usually resulted. However, even in the more severe cases, affected dogs walked and ran on their mutilated feet without any evidence of lameness, pain or ataxia, and they allowed wound care without evidence of pain or discomfort. Dogs were otherwise healthy, with the exception of frequent secondary bacterial infections of the wounded feet. This disorder was clinically very difficult to manage, and the majority of the dogs were euthanized within days to months of diagnosis. None of the sires or dams of the affected dogs reported here were clinically affected. There was no apparent sex predilection. An autosomal recessive mode of inheritance was strongly suspected. The clinicopathological findings, the early age of onset and the disease progression in affected French spaniels were very similar to those reported for hereditary sensory neuropathy in German short‐haired pointers, English pointers and English springer spaniels. Funding: Self‐funded.