Canine Breeds Predisposed to Develop Diskospondylitis: A Retrospective Study of 181 Cases (2009-2018)

Abstract

A study to determine the prevalence and predisposition of dog breeds to develop diskospondylitis (DS) was carried out on a population of 5,497 animals submitted to computed tomography or digital radiography of the spine between 2009 and 2018. Variables such as breed, gender, age, vertebral segment and total number of vertebrae affected were collected and submitted to the prevalence tests, chi-square and odds ratio. A total of 181 dogs presented DS, a prevalence of 3.4%. Of these, 65% were males with a probability 1.6x greater than females (CI 1.17-2.17). Dogs more than 10 years old have a 1.5x higher probability (CI 1.10-2.05), while those between 2-5 years the probability decreases 51% (CI 0.34-0.77). Large dogs (>30 kg; 45%) showed a 3.8x greater chance to develop DS (CI 2.56-5.33) than small dogs (<15 kg; 28%), although the small dogs showed a 34% lower probability (CI 0.24-0.47). The Labrador Retriever breed was 3.7x more likely to develop DS than all the other breeds studied ) and the French Bulldog, among the small breeds, was 2.8x more susceptible (CI 1.51-5.06). In conclusion older dogs, large dogs, especially Labrador Retrievers, are more likely to develop DS. The French bulldog should be studied further.

Epidemiology of Modic changes in dogs: Prevalence, possible risk factors, and association with spinal phenotypes

“…MRI characteristics compatible with discospondylitis were found in 5.5% (19/340) of dogs referred for MRI analysis of the lumbar spine. Previous work found a comparable prevalence (3.4%) in dogs referred for spinal imaging 87 . A significant association was furthermore detected between discospondylitis (diagnosed with MRI based on imaging characteristics such as end plate lysis) and MC type 1, indicating that MC type 1 is associated with characteristics that are also commonly encountered in discospondylitis.…”

“…Previous work found a comparable prevalence (3.4%) in dogs referred for spinal imaging. 87 A significant association was furthermore detected between discospondylitis (diagnosed with MRI based on imaging characteristics such as end plate lysis) and MC type 1, indicating that MC type 1 is associated with characteristics that are also commonly encountered in discospondylitis. Affirmatively, MRI signal intensity changes are common findings in dogs with discospondylitis and resemble type 1 (acute phase) or type 3 MC.…”

Clinical features, comparative imaging findings, treatment, and outcome in dogs with discospondylitis: A multi‐institutional retrospective study

“…The median age of affected dogs in our study was 7 years of age. Dogs >10 years of age were the most commonly affected age group, as seen in an earlier study 3,14 . This could be due to the increased frequency of bacteruria and other abnormalities in older dogs, which could predispose to discospondylitis 15 .…”

“…Dogs >10 years of age were the most commonly affected age group, as seen in an earlier study. 3 , 14 This could be due to the increased frequency of bacteruria and other abnormalities in older dogs, which could predispose to discospondylitis. 15 This contrasts with the results of 2 studies with smaller sample sizes.…”

“…One hundred fifty were female (120 spayed and 30 intact females) and 236 were male (135 castrated and 101 intact males). The most common dog breed was mixed breed (70), followed by Labrador Retriever (50), German Shepherd Dog (34), Boxer (21), French Bulldog (14), Doberman Pinscher (13), English Bulldog (9), Great Dane (9), Golden Retriever (8), Rottweiler (7), Weimaraner (7), English Springer Spaniel (6), Staffordshire Bull Terrier (6), Welsh Corgi (5), Maltese (5), Mastiff (5), Miniature Pinscher (5), Dachshund (4), Miniature Schnauzer (4), Pit Bull (4), Shih Tzu (4), Toy Poodle (4), Vizsla (4), Yorkshire Terrier (4), Border Collie (3), Bulldog (3) Breeds significantly overrepresented in our study group, with ratios of breed as a proportion of the study group compared to the proportion of the AKC group occupied by the same breed, indicated by the term "ratio" were: Greyhound (ratio: 42.4, P < .001), Polish Lowland Sheepdog (ratio: 20.5, P < .001), Dandie Dinmont Terrier (ratio: 19.6, P < .001), Staffordshire Bull Terrier (ratio: 10.7, P < .001), English Setter (ratio: 42.4, P < .001), Briard (ratio: 7.5, P = .02), Irish Wolfhound (ratio: 4.2, P = .03), French Bulldog (ratio: 3.2, P < .001), Weimaraner (ratio: 2.5, P = .01), Doberman Pinscher (ratio: 2.1, P = .005), German Shepherd Dog (ratio: 1.4, P = .05), and Australian Cattle Dog (ratio: 1.3, P < .001). Breeds significantly underrepresented in our study group were Golden Retriever (ratio: 0.4, P = .02), Dachshund (ratio: 0.3, P = .02), Yorkshire Terrier (ratio: 0.18, P = <.001), German Shorthair Pointer (ratio: 0.2, P = .04), American Bulldog (ratio: 0.1, P = .001), Chihuahua (ratio: 0.1, P = .01), Beagle (ratio: 0.1, P < .001), and Standard Poodle (ratio: 0.1, P = .003).…”