Fibrocartilaginous emboli.

Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) is an acute ischemic myelopathy, primarily of large or giant breed dogs, which results from occlusion of blood vessels within the spinal cord parenchyma or the adjacent leptomeninges by masses of fibrocartilage. Lateralizing and asymmetric neurologic deficits are very suggestive of spinal cord infarction. The diagnosis of FCE is made by eliminating causes of acute compressive myelopathy such as trauma and intervertebral disc herniation. Patients with lower motor neuron deficits secondary to FCE have a more guarded prognosis than those with upper motor neuron deficits. In most instances, if recovery is to occur, improvement will be evident within the first 10 days after the onset of clinical signs.