Sensory nerve conduction velocities in the cutaneous afferents of the ulnar and peroneal nerves of the dog: tissue temperature-dependent reference ranges.

Sensory nerve conduction velocities in the cutaneous afferents of the ulnar and peroneal nerves of the neurologically normal adult dog were determined by stimulation at stimulus intensities of 15, 20 and 25 V through subcutaneously placed electrodes and by the averaged evoked response technique. Stimulus intensities of 15 V for the ulnar nerve and 20 V for the peroneal nerve were adequate to measure the sensory nerve conduction velocities of these nerves. A linear relationship was seen between sensory nerve conduction velocity (y in m/s) and tissue temperature (x in degree C) and the regression equations were expressed as follows: y = 1.6x + 12.3 at a stimulus intensity of 15 V for the ulnar nerve and y = 2.0x - 10.6 at 20 V for the peroneal nerve, respectively. The 95% confidence limits of the regressions of the sensory nerve conduction velocities against tissue temperature, obtained at a stimulus intensity of 15 V for the ulnar nerve or at a stimulus intensity of 20 V for the peroneal nerve, were proposed for a tissue temperature-dependent reference range to enable the clinician to evaluate graphically the sensory nerve conduction velocity in a diseased dog.