Robert S. Bakal; Gregory A. Lewbart; Nancy E. Love; Clifford R. Berry; Gregory S.
Starrak; Nicholas J.H. Sharp
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh,
NC
A 6 year-old 1 kg Kohaku koi (Cyprinus carpio) presented to the NCSUVTH for inappropriate movement and anorexia. Physical examination revealed the fish was paretic from the mid-dorsal fin caudally. Deep pain was elicited on neurologic examination. The rest of the neurologic evaluation was unremarkable. Radiographs were made which revealed an incongruity at the level of C5-C6. A nuclear scintigraphic study demonstrated that the radiographic lesion was active. A CT scan and three dimensional reconstructions were made in an attempt to determine the amount of spinal cord trauma caused by the vertebral fracture. The fish was placed in a 300 liter circular tank and rested for 10 weeks. The fish's condition improved over this time and it regained approximately 80% of its mobility. The fish was returned to its pond and is doing well to date, 9 months after initial presentation.